You, like many people, might be fooled into thinking that you are just an average or ordinary person. I disagree. You may be living an average life (and that can be changed), but you are far from being ordinary or average. Every inch of you, right down to the tiny specs of color in your eyes, or the split ends on a few strands of your hair, is extraordinary and unique. While you may not think of it that way, it is high time that you should.

You can’t live a powerful or extraordinary life if you don’t understand the importance and beauty of your individuality. If you believe you are average, average you will be. If you believe you are more, so much more you will be. There is a direct correlation to how you think and how you view yourself, and the outcome of who you are. You can create so much more power and focus through a strong and positive mindset. Friends, welcome to your powerful life. Let’s start with the basics.

What exactly is a powerful life? In terms of martial arts, we can use an overly simplified definition. In performing a board break, for example, power is actually generated from the hips and how you use them during the technique, not from your foot or hand. In fact, taking your worry and concern away from your foot or your hand (depending on the type of board break), and focusing on your hip instead, is often how you break through the board. So, it is not initially what you initially think. The hand or foot is not from where the power is generated, even though that is what breaks the board.

Your life is similar to the board break. While you may think the occurrences in your life  “just happen,” the results are really more like the hand or foot in a board break. It is not the events that control who you are, but your mindset that drives the results. Your mindset is similar to the hip in a powerful board break.  Without the use of the hip, the board break is very difficult. Without the use of the positive mindset, your life feels very average.

Every day of your life, in fact, contains board break moments. How many times do you have to break through an obstacle just to get through the day? Maybe it is fatigue, stress, a burden, a loss, an unanswered question, a worry, or an illness. While you can try to push through, it is not easy to shake the negativity that accompanies these difficulties. There is no empowerment there. All you can see is struggle, because it consumes you.

How do you break free? How can you turn it all around?

One day, many years ago, I sat in a hospital room and had to choose if I would give up or if I would fight. I wanted to give up. That’s what everything seemed to tell me to do. But, it wasn’t about me. It was about my unborn baby and his life or death. When I decided to take control of not only how I was feeling, but my perspective, I started to generate the power I needed to persevere. It was one small decision that I made to not give up, and to opt for hope, that gave me exactly what I needed change the course of my life forever.

If you feel like your life is stagnant, you do not know where to turn, or you can’t seem to figure out what to do next, the first thing you should do is not focus on those thoughts. Instead, review your perspective and your outlook. Are they in check? Do you feel like a victim, or a superhero? Do you see failure at every turn, or  life-lessons? Do you feel confident, or do you frequently question your own decisions? In each circumstance there is a very fine line between the two. To cross over from the negative to the positive, you must make a choice. Based on your choice, you will either continue living a life that seems to lack fulfillment, or, you will energize, re-group, and rejuvenate. This is the crossover from ordinary, usual, or average, to the person you were created to be.

I made a choice all those years ago to fight and push through, and I’m glad I did. Since then I always look for the silver lining, or the positive, because I know that it really does make a difference. With an unborn child destined to die, I changed every perception that I ever had into something hopeful and powerful, knowing that however it turned out, I would still need to live my life. A loss or a gain, I was still me with a long life ahead, and I didn’t want to live it out with regret, sorrow, or heartache.

Your average life can be changed, and it does not have to be a major overhaul. When I began martial art training in the late 1980’s I went to class once a week, and continued to go once a week for years. I did not have the time, money, or resources to invest in any more than that. Still, I accomplished my goal, and it was just a slight change to my usual routine. Once a week was all it took to help me see myself in a new light. Once a week was all it took for me to began to develop as a martial artist and to improve my confidence. Eventually I felt the “ordinary” me drift away. The realization that we each have unique gifts and talents, and we each have an incredible part to play in the world around us, was enough to forever propel me into pursuing positivity over negativity.

Today, as you reflect on how you see yourself, ask yourself how you would like to see yourself. What changes would you make? Is there one change that you can make today, right now, that would allow you to move in that direction? I believe that no one wants to live a dull or ordinary life. Most want a spark of success here and there, an acknowledgement for their efforts, or to follow a dream.

You can create a powerful life. You, and only you, can make the change. If you do, you will immediately see the difference. Fight for what you believe, put positivity to the test, and emerge into a life that has meaning and purpose. Allow positivity to guide you into a successful and extraordinary life.

Andrea

 

My new book, The Martial Arts Woman, is now available. Purchase through my e-commerce store: http://themartialartswoman.storenvy.com/ or on Amazon!

The Martial Arts Woman shares the stories and insights of more than twenty-five women in the martial arts, and how they apply martial arts to their lives. Unlike most other martial art books, the reader will catch a glimpse into the brave and empowered woman who dares to be all that she can be. Many of these women had to overcome great societal or personal challenges to break into the men’s world of martial arts. This book will motivate and inspire you to go after your goals in life and to fight through every challenge and defeat every obstacle. The Martial Arts Woman will open your eyes to the power of the human spirit and the martial art mindset that dwells in each of us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Andrea F. Harkins is a  writer, motivator, life coach, martial artist, and public speaker. Her book, The Martial Arts Woman, is now available at themartialartswoman.storenvy.com or on Amazon!

Andrea is Internationally known for her positivity through martial arts efforts and outreach, and her writing. She is currently a columnist for Martial Arts Illustrated UK, The Martial Arts Guardian (UK), the World Martial Arts Magazine, MASUCCESS, Conflict Manager, Martial Arts Business (Australia), The Parrish Village News, and her blog, The Martial Arts Woman.  Contact her through this website’s CONTACT ME page for information on public speaking, autographs, and life coaching.