Accidentally Aligned: Embracing Growth Through Challenge

Today, I want to discuss the concept of growth. For six years, I dedicated myself to studying martial arts. When I first began, I was a complete novice, eager to learn. The initial steps were relatively easy and straightforward. However, as I advanced, the lessons became increasingly challenging and required greater discipline.

For instance, at the lower ranks, we were praised simply for executing a block. But at higher ranks, the focus shifted to the efficiency of the block. If a higher-level student was seen "over-blocking," the emphasis was on correcting this inefficiency. Many students found this transition frustrating as the difficulty level increased.

I recall a particular instance when I had been practicing Nunchaku techniques for several weeks. I had mastered the kata with impressive speed and precision. When I demonstrated my skills, my instructor acknowledged my progress but asked, "Why did you learn only with your right hand?" I replied, "Because I am right-handed, and it felt more natural." My instructor's response was, "That's a good plan if the attacker always comes from the right side."

Thanks to my Sensei's mentorship, I went back and relearned everything with my left hand. This process was grueling. I hit myself in the face, accumulated bruises all over my body, and likely broke a couple of fingers. Today, I can perform these techniques with both hands, all because I had a teacher who pushed me to step out of my comfort zone.

So, why share this story?

The reason is simple: We often gravitate towards tasks that come naturally to us. The problem is that our greatest blind spots are often in areas that don't come naturally, and it's easy to dismiss them as "too difficult."

When we avoid challenges because they are hard or frustrating, we miss out on the growth that comes from confronting them head-on. My challenge today is to think about the areas in our life where we have resistance to change and ask ourselves what the cost is to allowing these areas to be as they are.

Let's make tomorrow better than today.