You have potential. Your life is very similar to the journey of a martial artist, starting at white belt, leading to black, then back around again. From beginning to end, the martial arts journey and the life journey are nourished by activities, events, and emotions. Both require a vast array of thoughts and practices, humility and understanding.
How does martial arts potential evolve? Sometimes the martial artist thinks, “I have an amazing adventure ahead of me.” Sometimes, he says “this is really difficult!” Other times, he reflects “I don’t know what I’m doing!” The moment when he thinks, “this feels exactly right. I have more to learn, but I know I am on the right track!” he is accepting and acknowledging his potential. These same feelings are part of daily life. You will have days when everything feels just about right; then days when you wonder what you should be doing or why you are where you are. The martial-arts perspective enters when, instead of just accepting what is happening, good or bad, you choose to be grateful or work the situation into something better. It allows these feelings and actions to evolve into something more meaningful.
- The martial artist, on a good day, feels at his peak. He looks at his adventure or challenge with wide eyes and curiosity.
- When the martial artist’s tasks at hand are difficult, but he pushes through until he finds success.
- When the martial artist feels like he does not know what he is doing, he asks questions and practices until it feels right.
You can apply each of these steps to your own life to find your own potential.
Potential is untapped. It is waiting for a chance to reveal itself. If you ignore it, it’s worth nothing. If you seek it, it’s worth everything. You will never wallow in regrets again. You will never wish your life was different or that you were more like someone else. You will never take a good moment for granted. Potential reveals itself in many unexpected and unannounced ways. It may just seep in slowly or it may explode like a firework right in the midst of your life.
A martial artist’s potential is revealed in his role as motivator. A friend, a relative, a complete stranger is sure to ask a martial artist for his advice or expertise at some point, even if he is not a black belt or an instructor. He is in a role to which people will turn for answers.
You are in that role, too. We all are. It is a responsibility of humankind to teach each other. In return, you will create a legacy, a gift of yourself, to others. You have something to share. It may have to do with your job or your church, your personality, skills, or hobbies. It may be for a neighbor, a friend, or a co-worker. At some point, someone will need you to teach them something. This is the martial way, to accept your calling and responsibility because it is the right thing to do. Like the martial arts practitioner, your life is full of beauty and grace and if you do not recognize it, you will find yourself feeling empty and lackluster. Part of the intimacy and truth of your spirit is sharing what you believe and value.
Through your life practices, and by teaching or sharing something with others, self-fulfillment is possible. When you are productive and art living an inspiring life, potential starts to rise to the surface. Obviously, I feel called to write blog posts to help others find good, positive reactions to their life experiences. I’ve learned so much in the course of my life due to extraordinary challenges (a fire on my property, almost losing my third child, and defending my family’s choice to home school, for example) that I have a lot of compassion for others who are stuck in a tumultuous time. So, I take all of the “practicing” I’ve done in my life and use it to teach others how to succeed through difficult experiences.
A karate practitioner who shares what he knows about his style and his passion for martial arts will be respected. He will answer questions willingly because a martial artist serves not just himself, but others by conveying good messages and examples. The result of your experiences combined with your teaching/sharing will result in an expansion of your personal potential. It’s a simple equation:
Your experiences plus your sharing of your experiences equals the recognition of your potential
Once you start to recognize your potential, you can do whatever you want with it. I choose to write articles, create and record music, and listen carefully to the inspirational stories of others. I don’t know where all my potential will lead, but I do know that I feel more fulfilled because I’ve started to recognize it. Potential is not to be confused with “success” although, like success, it is ongoing and has no particular end point. A martial artist who accepts his potential knows that there are an endless number of skills to achieve long after black belt. Opportunity will always be available.
Your potential will be a personal expression. Potential is like a steady vine that grows. Along the way, you need to pull the stubborn weeds out of theway and water it to keep it going. Soon, the vine spreads from person to person and makes connections that lasts forever. You have more potential than you know and most likely it is still sitting dormant. Your life has its own amazing story, completely different from any other, just as each martial artist has his own particular style. Let the vine grow.
You are in charge of your life. Take charge of your potential, too.
The lesson is easy-peasy, martial-artsy. There is no difference between you and any martial artist. Both of you have potential just beneath the surface; it’s what you do with it that makes the difference.
So, get to action! Grasp your untapped potential now and Win at Life!
Andrea
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Life coaching also available.
My book “The Martial Arts Woman” will be published this year.
Oh I love this 🙂
I find it humorous (in hindsight usually) when I resist learning something new in real life as well as in Karate. Once I get out of my own way though and finally choose to *learn* whatever I was fighting against there’s always such a lovely feeling of accomplishment and growth. Learning is truly *satisfying*.
And you’re right, teaching is just as joyous. I got my brother a bo staff for his birthday (we’ve both always had an interest in stick weapons every since we were children and he lives too far away to come to the Karate school I attend). I showed him the basic warm-up exercises and beginner techniques (which is pretty much all I know as well).
We both had a blast, him in learning something new and me sharing the little bit of knowledge I have. I can’t wait to have the first bo kata down firmly enough to teach it to him.
Finding one’s potential is most definitely a give and take of being willing to step outside one’s comfort zone to learn something new and then to share one’s passion with others, blowing an their own inner embers of potential.
Hello Gwendolyn! Thank you for reading and commenting! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! haha! I completely understanding. We are all a little stubborn sometimes. So great your bother shares your interests! Inner embers fire up!
Ossu! [bow]
Thanks for helping us believe in ourselves 🙂 This article is a real boost. You had to defend your family’s right to home school? Was that just normal dealing with skeptics, or was that a brush with nosy social workers? Inquiring minds (or at least this ex-homeschool mom) want to know 🙂
[bow]
My pleasure 🙂 When we started home schooling twenty years ago, it was not widely accepted and we were often criticized or had to defend ourselves.Family and friends definately struggled with our decision and felt we might be doing something detrimental to our children. We had to overcome or ignore. We always knew our personal choice was the correct one. Today, we have amazing children and while the journey was difficult at times, we stayed true. Everyone also thought our children would be unsocial or hermit or something. Little did they know…
Ossu! [bow]
Your kids *are* amazing – the proof is in the pudding! Keep on trucking!
[bow]
Thanks KarateMama!
I have a friend in Kansas who also homeschooled her 4 kids and what I have read over the years, they have turned out just as outstanding as yours. There is no question that some schools in the country are not up to par so sometimes you have to think outside the box and do what you feel is best for your family. It doesn’t matter if other people accept in or not. The bottom line is that the kids are well educated by whatever means and still can function in society. Might not work for all but when it comes to getting an education, it’s worth a try. Congratulations on everything so far. Continued success. You really have the knack for writing. All the best and full respect.
Thank you Steve! It’s nice to hear about other successful homeschoolers! And, I appreciate your comments also.
Excellent and very inspiring, Sensei! 🙂
As human beings, we inhabit this little blue planet that is but a speck amongst the countless billions of stars, planets, and galaxies that exist. The only way can ever hope to see ourselves achieve our greatest potential is to pass along what we have learned throughout life, as you said. For me, I feel good when I’m able to help others. It’s a good, positive feeling. Too often, we ignore the blessings in our lives because our minds are “begging bowls”. We seek outwardly for ways in which we can make ourselves better, when here is martial arts teaching the greatest lesson of all: perfection of character through training. Thank you, ma’am!
Thanks Anwar! Potential is a give and take, the way I see it.
Endless potential. Thanks for the reminder to keep growing, Andrea!
And you remind me of my potential all the time and for that I am very appreciative!