SEVEN STEPS TO INNER POWER

In this debut guide to a purposeful life, a martial arts teacher weaves her autobiography into lessons about finding inner power.

Kim is no stranger to hardship. She was born in 1946 in a small South Korean village (“We were surrounded by mountains and rivers. There was no electricity and there were no phones”). Growing up during the Korean War, she faced abandonment, abuse, violence, loss, and negative reinforcement from a young age. Determined to practice martial arts, she continued to defy those around her who attempted to suppress her learning the sport. Heading into her teen years and young adulthood, Kim managed to find sympathetic teachers and mentors who would nurture her skills, ultimately leading her to a lifelong career as a martial arts instructor. Through the striking story of her triumphs and the vital lessons she learned along the way, Kim deftly lays out crucial ideas to help readers establish a potent inner self that can overcome all forms of adversity. Beginning with self-knowledge, she clearly illustrates the advantages of forming and controlling your own thoughts in line with your objectives. One trait the author encourages is a willingness to reveal and accept one’s own flaws and hindrances in order to overcome them. While the lucid book’s suggestions are simple in theory, many of them are difficult in practice—such as finally admitting faults and indulging in honest self-reflection. The guide also examines useful topics like yin and yang, emphasizing that the authentic self is a balance of both masculine and feminine forces, though many individuals are afraid to express the qualities of both genders. From these larger concepts, the author presents and skillfully dissects the seven steps toward locating the real self: “body and mind as one, with truth, purity, love, loyalty, sacrifice, and patience.” Assessing the last phase, the author notes: “Finally, we develop patience with ourselves and others. We learn to be content with the path we have chosen and with our progress. We stop living for tomorrow and live and breathe the journey right now, weathering life’s surprises and disappointments, remaining at peace with our direction and with ourselves.” Through all of these principles, Kim asserts, individuals become focused warriors on the road to inner power, shelving distractions and channeling energy from practices that support their goals and happiness.

A straightforward and memorable manual about discovering strength through seven virtuous steps.