If you practice martial arts you can earn a black belt.  But what about life?  What can you earn if you practice life?

Notice the two key words here:  practice and earn.  Nothing in life is handed to you.  If you win the lottery, then that’s some good luck; but generally most of you live in your own world that consists of family, friends, work, and a home.  Some of you don’t have that much.  The world that you have made for yourself  is not permanent.  It can be changed for the better, but only if you practice and you earn it.

You have untapped potential.  I am just now starting see some of my potential  and some of my life’s mission. Being able to utilize my writing as an outreach is a personal potential I never realized until recently.  It is something I have literally practiced all my life and now because of it, I have earned incredible friendships.  I’ve been working half my life learning, practicing, and teaching martial arts.  Now, I have earned respect and a following by my peers.  I have practiced being a mother for twenty years and now I have earned great children who are focused and motivated.  You can see how good practice elicits good results.

The truth about you is that you are a black belt within, but only if you are willing to explore and tap into your gifts and talents.  The result will be priceless.  How can you do that?  Well, I’m glad you asked.

I Doubt It 

First you need to rid yourself of constant doubt.  A black belt feels doubt, like you, but finds a way to overpower it before it overpowers him.  If you are preparing for something difficult such as a test, a surgery, a new job, or a life event, you must put self-doubt aside as quickly as possible.  Let’s put it this way, you can never “black-belt” your life until you reach deep within, muster up some courage and make a deal with yourself that you simply cannot fail.

If you are facing a situation and the first thing you do is question yourself, your chances of success just lessened.  You must encourage yourself, even when no one else will.  When a karate student enters the floor on tournament day, he must keep in mind that he’s worked hard for this very moment.  He has practiced and prepared for a long time and has every skill necessary to win.  Any other thought will leave him unsure and if doubt enters his mind his chance to win is skewed.  Don’t let doubt skew your chances from being the person you want to be.

Becoming a black belt is not just being handed a new belt on exam day. It’s more than a physical rehearsal of movements and style.  It is more than even years of practice.  Being a black belt is about realizing, understanding, and earning your own personal power and potential.  It’s about casting doubt aside so you can earn personal accomplishments and rewards.

Let’s apply this to your life.  If self-doubt creeps in, a lot changes.

1. If you don’t believe you are the best candidate for the job, then it’s likely you won’t get the job
2. If you doubt you’ll be a good spouse, then it’s likely you will never find your soul mate
3. If you are unsure that you can pass that test in school, your chances of getting an A are not so good

Self doubt is a sure way to not get a job, break up a good marriage, and fail a test.  It sets a pre-determined negative plan in motion that will fall into place just as you suspect.  Sure, there are instances in life when an event takes place that was never meant to be and that is because the truth was overlooked.  Be true to yourself and release your constant self-doubt if  you want to experience your true black belt self.

Stir Your Spirit

Another black belt truth about you is that you have a black belt spirit.

Perhaps you never have taken a step in a dojo.  You’ve never watched any martial arts up close and personal.  Your understanding of karate is what you’ve seen in the Karate Kid movies.  That is okay because your black belt spirit is not something for which you can actually train.  It is not something you can practice.  It is particular to you and encompasses all your emotions, thoughts, visions and dreams.  It is important because when you explore it, you find bits and pieces of yourself that you thought were buried forever.  Interesting memories, talents you haven’t thought about in years, desires to learn, and your untapped, untouched personal excellence.

Your spirit is as unique as the types of people who practice martial artists.  There are so many varieties of people who practice:  Young. Old. Thin. Large. Bald. Quiet. Funny. Rich. Poor. Serious. Silly. Boy. Girl. Each has a different essence and personality. The one thing that draws them all together is the quest to be better, to improve, and to make a difference.  If those same qualities make up a part of you, then your black belt spirit is in tact!

The black belt spirit is what convinces the martial artist to go to class every week and train with intensity.  I’ve never walked into a karate school to see students just lounging around.  When class is in session, they are full tilt.  This is how they overcome mediocrity to find excellence. Personal excellence cannot be compared to others or even defined by anyone except you.   Black belts understand personal excellence because without it they would have never earned their belt.  It’s not about if they can perform as well as the next guy.  It’s about if they can reach their own potential when they are given the opportunity.

I try to grab every opportunity that comes my way.  I wrote one article for an industry magazine, MASUCCESS, a year ago.  That article landed me several more writing jobs for that magazine.  That original article was read by the locals in my town and gave me the opportunity to share my blogs and stories in the local newspaper.  One small opportunity developed into other better opportunities.  The first article took me forever to write. I wanted it to be polished and ready as submitted.  My extra effort and time paid off by spinning off into other opportunities.

So, you have just learned another black belt truth about you.  Inside you hold the key that every martial artist who has ever earned a black belt has unlocked –  the realization that your very own black belt spirit can lead you to personal excellence and a journey worth taking, despite the effort.  Do you want to be average or exceptional?  Your black belt spirit is just waiting to be put to use to conquer your personal challenges, rejuvenate, and push you from ordinary to extraordinary.

We are all born with a black belt spirit, but only a few ever choose to use it.  That, my friend, is a choice for you to make.

Two very important black belt truths about you are that self-doubt will hinder your ability to ever become the person you wish to be.  You may as well tuck the proverbial black belt back in the closet until you are ready to practice and earn your own respect.  Secondly, look for that black belt spirit within.  It may be the little voice in your head that pushes you along, or it might be your truth, integrity, and grit.  Whatever your spirit is made of, recognize it, appreciate it, and give it the chance to mature.  It will show and you will stand out in a crowd.  The same way you are impressed with martial arts black belts, the rest of the world will be impressed with you because your black belt spirit will be noticeable.

Can I hand you a black belt for reducing self-doubt and embracing your black belt spirit?  No.  But you have earned and learned something just as meaningful –  the black belt truths about you.

Be the person you are meant to be – the black belt within.

Andrea