Do you ever get home from work or school and not feel like going to class?
So do I.
Do you struggle to follow healthy nutrition guidelines and find yourself tempted by junk food at every waking second?
So do I.
Are you nervous about starting martial arts because you're afraid you'll make yourself look like a fool?
So was every martial artist out there, excluding maybe those who began training when they were too young to care!
Do you get nervous about sparring because you are afraid of performing poorly and getting hurt or embarrassed?
So do I.
Do you look in the mirror and think negatively about your image?
So do I.
All of these things are just part of being human. And we all have people that we think are superhuman that we put up on a pedestal but guess what - they are just like you too.
Now it is true that some people seem to have everything figured out in areas of life that you are struggling in. They are just further along in that aspect of the journey, but they were where you are at some point. And in other areas of their lives, they won't be quite as far along.
Plenty of highly successful business people are overweight.
Many famous people have unstable lives.
Tons of professional athletes and musicians struggle with addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Many people that make millions of dollars go broke.
Lots of incredibly fit people have poor relationships with their friends and family.
In many cases, high levels of success in one area of life leads to other facets being neglected. We act surprised when we see someone that seems to have "had it all" fall apart, but it's because we forget to see that they are just human beings.
We are quick to judge and criticize others because it makes us feel better.
When we talk about how much weight someone has put on, we feel better about our fitness journey. When we gossip about someone's personal life, it comforts us.
So next time you catch yourself rationalizing why you shouldn't go to class tonight, get up within 5 seconds and go. Even if it isn't time yet! Go early and practice or update your notebook.
When you start convincing yourself why you shouldn't start your martial arts training, fitness program, nutrition plan, etc. yet, get up within 5 seconds and start. Don't wait for Monday. Take the next small action you can take towards beginning.
When you find yourself putting someone down, thinking you are better than someone, or participating in gossip, stop right away and intentionally do something positive for that person instead.
All of these thoughts and actions are human things, but our goal should be to strive every day to be a better human. That is the "Martial Arts Way of Life." Don't let the fact that it's "normal" help you rationalize staying where you are.
The fact that you are normal is comforting. Realize you aren't alone. It feels good, doesn't it? Be kind to yourself. Now, since all of these things are normal - strive to be weird!
For more on this, check out one of my favorite pieces from Precision Nutrition -
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/that-fit-person-whos-got-it-all-together-doesnt