It has been a difficult week all around. I am recently back from being out of town, getting back in the swing of things, working on some personal goals and just holding the family together. Midweek, I had an amazing kickboxing class but it was very intense. The next morning after a difficult day with my daughter’s illness, I sat down to journal during some reflection and the following ensued. I simply had to share in hopes it might help anyone else fighting a battle, either your own or for someone else.
How do you stand to fight?
I have been kickboxing for 2 years now. I am not terrific but I am not bad and I am definitely better than when I started! I can say that with just about everything I have been working on the last 2.5 years. My kickboxing coach has taught me a lot and the most basic foundation and principle to my success or failure of a thing he has me do often boils down to the stance I take.
“Your fight stance is everything!”
-Coach Amon
There is so much more involved in kickboxing than the stance alone. However, I have come to learn that even if I possess all the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a task he gives, without the right stance to produce the leverage needed to apply those strengths, I am truly in a position of weakness. Without the correct stance, everything is compromised.
If feeling overcome, I often ask myself, “Jennifer – how are you fighting? Is it from a position of strength or weakness?”
This is so true in life, isn’t it? How do we stand and fight for a thing? I “fight” for my health, fitness and self growth every day. I fight for my daughter who is suffering a crippling chronic illness, some days I simply fight to get out of bed. I may have to stand and fight in the midst of temptation, not feeling motivated, ridicule, or even loneliness. It doesn’t matter WHAT the fight or goal. What matters is how I come to it and how I stand and fight.
You know, when trying to accomplish something, you might feel discouraged because you aren’t sure if you have the necessary skills, strength, and/or knowledge needed to do it. I often find myself at a dead end, wondering what to do next. My former failure mentality and insecurities often drove self defeating self sabotage that led to giving up, which led to more self defeating thoughts until it occurred to me,
Just because you haven’t figured it out yet, doesn’t mean you won’t ever figure it out! Maybe I don’t know how right now but I DO possess the ability to learn. Keep learning! Fight from a position of strength!
It is also true that you don’t need to possess some magically motivated personality of commitment or dedication because THOSE are just decisions, not things you inherently possess. Everyone is motivated to do something and it is rooted in why they want it, even if it is a poor decision that is the opposite of their goals! Sitting on the sofa and doing nothing is a decision, eating the crappy thing that makes you feel awful is also a decision, giving up is a decision. Commitment and dedication are rooted in having a good reason WHY you want or need to do something. Make sure it is towards what you actually want to achieve. Without it, you are coming from a position of weakness.
To reach a goal, you must leverage yourself in a position that employs your greatest strengths because when you get knocked down (and you will), that reason why will produce in you the strength and commitment needed to get back up and keep going! So keep getting back up and fight from a position of strength!
It is easy to want to give up and throw in the towel, especially when we don’t feel like we can go one more round. It’s in those moments you have to decide who or what you are fighting for and is it worth getting back up again?
YOU are always worth fighting for! Those we love are worth it and every second of life we have been given is worth it. No matter how terrible the day is, now matter the pain, the agony, or how hopeless it feels, it’s always worth it. What will we do with the day we have been gifted?
May the suffering never be wasted. May the lessons learned be treasured and valued above the pain and agony endured to reach them and when you hear that bell and the fight is over, be satisfied in knowing you gave it your all. 🥊
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