Have you ever had one of those days when you woke up and hoped that you could just get through the day? Maybe you had something difficult to face, or you didn’t want to participate in something, or you knew someone was going to be angry or disappointed in you, and the thought of it took your energy away. Even worse, you felt like there was no opportunity that existed for you.

I can relate. I’ve been there, and I had every one of those thoughts anxiously consume my brain space at some point in my life.

Sometimes, it is good to wallow. A brief pity party won’t hurt a thing. If you spend more than a few minutes on the woe-is-me attitude, however you may sink into the depths of a sullen and negative spirit. You will, essentially,  erase every hope for self-betterment, if you allow it to consume you.

Years ago, when I started martial arts, I was inexperienced about what being a martial artist was, and had no idea what being a warrior would entail. I didn’t even care. I was learning a martial art, surviving a day job, paying bills, and gliding into adulthood with no goals and no sense of accomplishment. I faced each day thinking that I needed something more, but I had no idea how to make the change. Finally, after working for a few years after college graduation, I decided to go back to school for other skills. The day I made that decision, I actually started to shape my future.

I took part-time classes in the evening for two years, continued my martial art training, and built a  family as I went. Looking back, it was a monumental task. I didn’t see it that way then, but now I realize that there was a lot of hard work, effort, and sacrifice that took place.

Back then, my martial art training actually intimidated me. I had a lot of fear about failure, and a lot of worry about how I was perceived by my instructor and peers. Testing absolutely crushed my spirit and manifested in worry, when it should have been exciting and engaging.But, I overcame and persevered, and was even recognized for having a great sense of focus. I didn’t see in myself what others saw in me.When I finally realized that I was doing well, I slowly changed my over-ambitious and unrealistic attitude.

That worry and doubt during that time only hindered me slightly. I overcame the mind games, and applied physical actions in a dedicated manner. I can honestly say, I always had a fear of the tests and a fear of failure, yet. I always passed and I always did well. It is one very important example of how you must overcome the negative mindset, especially when  you feel suppressed.

Can you identify some examples of how you let your mind control and direct your actions, or your non-actions? Yes, even martial artists have difficult moments in their lives, and insecurities to overcome. Even though I was trained in martial arts, I still had fears. It’s a myth that martial arts completely change you. Instead, they help you to modify your behaviors and create new habits. These changes affect how you see the world, and how you see your own life. You will suddenly realize that the lack of opportunity you previously felt, was created not by circumstance, but by you.

It’s been years since I woke up with any sense of dread about my day. In fact, I’ve made a complete reversal of how I see my life and my day. Now, I wake up with a sense of excitement. Both my heart and my mind flutter the same truth – that I am ready to conquer, achieve, and most importantly, break through. If I trace my steps over the past few years, this feeling starts to make sense. The path continues to grow. I know it is because I have embraced my personal martial art spirit and changed my attitude. Amazingly, I’ve made great strides in my life to identify my mission and take the necessary actions.

Check out this chain of events in my life:

1. Teaches martial arts in a small town
2. Starts a blog about positivity and martial arts
3. Submits an article query to an industry martial art magazine, and is accepted
4. Submits several queries which are accepted and writes numerous articles
5. Becomes a regular correspondent for the magazine
6. Recognized as a writer and begins to write for several magazines and a newspaper
7. Writes a book, and collaborates with top women and other amazing women, in martial arts
8. Creates a strong social media presence
9. Is recognized and featured in an Internationally recognized martial art magazine
10. Becomes a writer for the Internationally recognized martial art magazine

The list goes on. I’m not bragging. I am showing how purpose is revealed, once you allow it to infiltrate your life. The key to all does not rely on my role as a martial artist, as much as it does about me taking action. Writing the blog was an action that foretold my future. From there, the list began to build, and my life began to fall into place.

None of it makes sense. Who would have thought? Certainly, not me, twenty or so years ago. Today, I recognize that I am just beginning. My mission to inspire and motivate through martial arts is one small step  in the right direction.

Your purpose exists, but can only be revealed if you take a step, or an action, toward it. It’s a fantasy to think someone is going to hand you opportunity without some effort backing it up. I recall asking one of the magazine editor’s, “Are you sure you want to feature me in this magazine? You don’t know anything about me.” His response was, “I know enough.” I had established myself through my actions, and was propelling myself into opportunity because of them.

If you need some action words to get you going, how about: try, propel, act, envision, grasp, create, step out, or lead. All it takes is one small action to create a snowball of opportunity, and to recognize your potential.

If you wake up tomorrow, or any other day in your life, and question who you are; if you arise in the morning wishing the day were already over; or if you feel lackluster and unsure, please realize there is nothing wrong with you. You are facing the same challenges as the rest of humankind.

If, however, you are ready to change it up, then you are in luck. Today is the beginning of your transformation. Today may be the very day that catapults you to the place in your life you have always wanted to be. Take some kind of action toward a goal. Allow your purpose to unfold, step by step. Recognize that you are developing into your potential. Take nothing for granted as you go. But, keep this in mind, because it is the absolute, undeniable truth.

Today may be the day when you finally break through.

Andrea