Most people today forget about the importance of effort. They think that success should happen simply because they want it. Many forget the hours of hard work and dedication it takes to reach a pinnacle. Think about climbing a mountain, or learning to fly an airplane. You cannot do it without practice, effort, and the belief that you can.

But you and I have not forgotten what effort means.

I was several months pregnant when I tested for my second degree black belt. First of all, I never imagined in my life that I would earn a black belt, never mind a second degree, and never did I imagine that I would be pregnant when doing it! When the day came for the test, I had some fears. I was several months pregnant and my history of miscarriages lingered in the back of my mind.

The doctor gave me the go ahead and consent because the pregnancy was past the cruicial point and I was fit from training. Of course, no rolls or sparring, but I had already proven these skills in class.

This 2nd degree black belt test is important for so many reasons. I broke through personal fears and I did it while carrying another life inside of me. It was as if we were both testing.  I managed through the test and I earned the belt. It was 1997 and I day I will never forget. I earned a second degree black belt while pregnant with my 2nd child (eventually I had 4 children total).

There are so many lessons learned. From this single day in my life, I learned that life itself is a test of magnificent proportions. No one else shares the same path or goals as you and no one understands your fears, excitement, joy or peace. You have to decide what boundaries are worth pushing through and when to assess the difficulties. Weigh the risks and options and make choices that guide you in the direction you want to go. Test yourself. Ask yourself why the outcome of any given effort is important to you. That will always guide you in the right direction.

In life, you are given every opportunity to excel. The choice is yours. How hard are you willing to work to be the person you truly want to to be? I know that I had to work very hard for that test, both physically and mentally. Now, it is a story I cherish because not many women  test and experience a martial art triumph when they are pregnant.

Even sharing my stories takes effort. Certainly, there are moments when I wonder if the effort is worth it. Does it make any difference? Is anyone listing? Does anyone care? How many times have you asked yourself the same questions?

If you feel your life lacks the success you desire, or if it feels empty and unsure at times, take the effort needed to build your dreams. Begin by assessing to what are you so drawn in your life that you cannot live without it. What combination of things brings you a sense of accomplishment or success?

The first step to moving past your current state of being into a more fulfilling life is to extinguish the false beliefs and untruths in your mind that make you believe that you are not capable. The day I earned a second degree carrying an unborn child is the day I learned that I am so much more capable than I ever realized. Nurturing myself through martial arts while nurturing a pregnancy is a huge accomplishment.

My friends, time passes by at lightning speed. If you waste time, you also dismiss the opportunity to find your happiness. There comes a point when you need to start building yourself up. I built my dream upon a black belt and a baby and all these years later, I see why. There was already a plan in place to someday share these stories with others to help them figure out their sense of place in the world.

All you really need to do is take a small forward-moving step and allow the momentum to carry you through. Today is as good as any other day to finally say, “Yes, I am going to make it happen. Today is the day that I am going to build my dream.”

xoxo

Andrea

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