Please read Part 1 , Part 3 for context. Thank you.
When I reached my high red belt I had a spiritual awakening that forever changed my life. I have applied this principle to every area of my life. The destination is not as important as what I learn on the way to the destination.
The destination of the belt is the sum of what I learn on the way to earning the belt. Therefore the color of the belt only signifies what I have learned. With my spiritual awakening I began to realize that my ability to effectively execute punches, kicks, knees, elbows and grappling skills was of far more importance than the color of the belt that I wore in class. Success took on new mearning. Success became part of the process. The destination became secondary.
With out the ability to execute punches, kicks, knees, elbows and grappling skill — regardless of the belt color that I wore in class — I would be unable to combine them when sparing or on the street. With my understanding I changed my focus. I started to celebrate and trust the process.
Apart from the lesson that I learned through my discouragement and disappointment I would still be frustrated — chasing after destinations. The lesson taught me to trust the process rather than emotionally investing myself in the outcomes — which may never be reached. Case in point. I was scheduled to test for my black belt this coming October. Earlier this year — in February — I damaged my right knee which resulted in the decision to bow out of the 10 month long black belt test preparation process.
Because of the injury to my knee and after getting several orthopedic opinions I decided to bow out of the 10 month long black belt cycle. Consequently, I had to let go of my dream of obtaining my black belt in mixed martial arts. Please read my 2 part series, Traumatic Brain Injury — Learning to Let go of a Dream. Because I had learned the lesson — that the process is more important than the destination — I have been able to let go of the dream.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us”. Helen Keller
Please read Part 3 by clicking on this link: Traumatic Brain Injury — THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE! Part 3 of 3
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however please attribute me as being the author of the article (s) video presentation (s), and provide a link back to the article (s) on Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Copyright 2007-2016.
Leave a Reply