Making our way through the world today takes everything we've got and no matter how hard we try to maintain a sense of composure and grace, from time to time challenges come along that test our resilience.  Over the course of our lives we learn certain tricks, skills, and methods that help us push through these obstacles and keep pace towards our goals. As we go, we fine tune these processes based on our experiences, refining ourselves along the way. 

Traditionally in Japan, the Dojo (道場) has long been a place of training in the martial arts, and over time it has become a focus for discipline, respect, and personal growth. The term means "place of the way", where one develops a practice and daily structure to follow our path towards our best self. It's also a place to return to when one feels the need to regain a sense of focus and direction. 

This painting developed the concept of the Dojo turning it inwards into one's own mind, creating a mental space for mediations developing the ability to spar with the intense thoughts we face on a regular basis. A place to cleanse the mind from all that bombards it across all media platforms. Even our own imaginations can pull us away from our personal goals and knock us off center. 

If we are not careful with our practice, our system can overload and freeze, halting our focus in the process. Like a computer, too much junk data can freeze the processors and shut us down. We however have the ability to counter these attacks on our mental well-being with tools to keep them at bay, cool the engines, and maintain course. 

Thoughts and emotions flow like a river spinning the wheels of our mental mills. One must constantly be present so that the mechanics do not jam from unwanted debris. Maintenance and refinement help to master physical techniques and mental barriers that keep self-development focused and grinding forward. From a grounded center all challenges can be met with a calm mind and any obstacle can be overcome with simple effort.