Resolve to Progress without Judgment
Hello! Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve written, and the last things I wrote about were weekly blog posts related to a “personal project,” which basically amounted to a resolutionĀ I made last year to learn a new Jiu-jitsu technique every week for a year. I managed to do about 12 weeks worth of techniques and related blog posts and then life got crazy. I started getting more stunt work. I performed in and produced a short film (there’s a shot of me working on it below. As a result, my training focus shifted. I’m okay with this. Here’s why.
The whole point in making resolutions or setting goals is to give yourself focal points for your personal progress. Sometimes those focal points are perfectly set and you move from A to B smoothly on a charted course. Other times your needs change so you have to shift your focal points to other things to reflect those needs. Just because you have to change course doesn’t mean you’re abandoning the journey. And who’s to say what journey you should be on anyway? You get to choose your journey so if you want to make unscheduled detours or even completely different direction changes, it’s up to you. As long as you don’t abandon your personal journey and keep progressing in your mind, body and spirit, you’re making something of your life.
So while it’s true that I didn’t learn as many new Jiu-jitsu techniques as I had originally planned, I did put a heck of a lot of training time into working on my kicks through Taekwondo training, as well as training various weapons and honing my film fighting skills. I made a ton of progress with my skillsĀ development last year, just not for this personal project I decided to make a go of at the beginning of 2016.
Ultimately, it’s better not to be overly attached to our goals or to judge yourself too harshly for making changes to them as needed. Yes, it’s good to have them, but it’s better to allow yourself some wiggle room for the changes that come with life. You gotta roll with the punches and take what life gives you. Sometimes it gives you even greater challenges than the ones you set for yourself. If you’re not open to change, you might limit yourself from doing greater things. That’s my two cents anyway.
We're proud to announce that Lori O'Connell Sensei's new book, When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-jitsu Strategies & Tactics for Self-Defense, published through international martial arts publisher Tuttle Publishing, is now available in major book stores and online. More about it & where to buy it.
Is that woman facing the camera/us you? You look completely different. I guess it’s the magic of makeup.
Congratulations. As a taekwondo stylist, I support your decision to work on your kicks. š
Hi Lori,
Long time no read. Glad to hear you’re doing good and still passionate about the martial arts.
I think New Year’s resolutions are overrated: too much pressure is counterproductive and the most important thing in my mind is to enjoy yourself. In life there are very few conditions that need to be met: outside of those you’re pretty much free to do whatever you want. Why constrict that freedom with self-imposed tasks and rigid plans that need to be met or you’ll feel regret and failure? Just being and enjoying the moment is so important I found.
In my humble opinion the happiest people are the men and women who live life based on their own will, in other words those people who are truly free since they make their own decisions and don’t let circumstances or others decide for them. This includes when to relax and when to work hard or meet deadlines.
I admire the path you chose: to move outside what is considered common-sense or desirable in society (steady 9 to 5 job, Climbing the corporate ladder, consumerism and hedonism…) takes guts and for that reason alone (I’m sure there are many more) I consider you a great martial artist.
Keep up the good work with the blog! Even though I’m not currently active in martial arts (which really isn’t good for my physical and mental health btw)I’m still into it and your posts here have always been thoughtful and informative. I’ll be sure to check in now and then.