Martial artists are supposed to be a cut above normal people. They follow a straighter path in life where they are supposed to act and behave differently but most of all they are supposed to think differently.
In the 2008 Olympics there was a controversy centered around swimmers Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic as to who won the gold medal in the 100m Butterfly race. Michael Phelps reached out and touched the touch pad one-hundredth of a second faster than Milorad Cavic. How does one train physically for that? The answer is that they don't. At one's highest peak physical state the difference between winning and losing is so close that the only error lies in their mental training. Therefore, a martial artist not only masters their bodies but they must also master their minds too.
Have you ever wondered if your mind is normal? Well, do this little mind exercise and find out if you are "normal"?
Check out the following exercise, guaranteed to raise an eyebrow. There's no trick or surprise. Just follow these instructions, and answer the questions one at a time and as quickly as you can. Again, as quickly as you can but don't advance until you've done each of them...really.
Now, scroll down (but not too fast, you might miss something)...
> > > > > What is: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1+5 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2+4 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3+3 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4+2 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5+1 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Now repeat saying the number 6 to yourself as fast as you can for 15 seconds. Then scroll down.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > QUICK! THINK OF A VEGETABLE! Then arrow down. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Keep going. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You're thinking of a carrot, right? > > > >
If not, you're among the 2% of the population whose minds are different enough to think something else. 98% of people will answer with carrot when given this exercise.