Whatever it is that life has thrown your way , whether it ’ s had to do with the Covid-19 pandemic or not , there are three strategies I learned from martial arts that will help you pick yourself up again with gusto .
As a martial artist , moving through the ranks , from white belt to black belt , you learn to face many different opponents . You ’ ll learn how to take a hit and feel extreme discomfort . You also learn very early on in your training something called matwork . Matwork is fancy footwork that helps you move quickly to avoid danger coming your way and how to fall down and get back up with ease and velocity .
Similar strategies work in real life . Once you ’ ve had time to process the hit you ’ ve taken , consider one of the following strategies to help you get back after life has knocked you down .
1 - THE PIVOT :
On the mat , pivoting looks like moving out of the way of an oncoming assault . It ’ s a quick change of direction to get you out of harm ’ s way and possibly set up in a better angle to deliver your counter attack .
In life , when something isn ’ t working , we sometimes have the option to change direction . We ’ ve all become masters of the pivot during the past few years . Whether you ’ ve had to learn to work from home or home school your kids , chances are , you ’ ve had to change something in your routine that no longer worked .
Are there any other challenges that you ’ re currently facing that could use a change of direction ?
2 . ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES :
On the mat , martial artists learn how to roll instead of falling flat on their face or straight onto their back . It ’ s almost as if you brace for the impact by blending with it , tucking yourself into a ball and allowing the backward motion to give you momentum . This momentum helps you reverse the direction of the roll more quickly than if you were laying flat out on the ground . The quicker you roll forward , the easier it is to get your feet underneath you to stand up again with more ease . The more you practice , the easier it becomes .
When life throws you not just one , but a series of hits , learning to roll helps you take a blow and use the momentum of the fall to help you reverse direction and stand back up . If you ’ re facing financial hardship and get hit with a scary medical diagnosis and are having difficulties in your relationship , life can feel extremely overwhelming . Find support systems , people who have been through similar hardships , and lean on them to walk you through your challenge . Search for groups of people either online or in person who are facing similar challenges . Reach out to your network of friends and acquaintances to find those people . Or enlist the service of a therapist , a counselor or a coach to help support you . Remember , you don ’ t have to do this alone .
3 . MAKE AN ULTIMATE COMEBACK :
On the mat , sometimes whether you see it coming or not , you get knocked out for the count . There ’ s no chance to pivot and
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
21