People who successfully stick with an exercise program for any length of time know this one:
Eyes on the prize.
Keep your mind everywhere except on how hard you're sweating.
This is important in martial arts, and it's something I struggle with.
It's easy to get distracted while working out: "I suck at this!" "My kicks have no power!" "Everyone else is doing better than I am!!" "I can't do anything right!!!" "I forgot to feed the cat!" "I'm so mad at so-and-do!"
Nothing saps your will and your workout quicker than second-guessing your performance, second-guessing your intention and side-stepping your focus.
I'm slowly learning to focus on a) the moment and b) the end game. Oh, and c) try to have fun.
When I focus on the moment, I line up my stance. I make sure my guard is up. Whoops, forgot to pivot my feet! Get that down on the next shot. Breathe. Breathe!!
I lose myself in the process and forget about all the work piled up on my desk at home, at the orders I have to get out, the kitchen sink full of dishes I didn't get to. I try to blank out what the guy on my right me is doing, and how many more push-ups than me the woman on my left is squeezing out.
My only competition is me. I'm just trying to do a little better than I did yesterday.
When I focus on the end game, I forget about working toward my black belt (or how I'm NOT working toward my black belt....) I focus on the fact that as long as I show up and keep trying, and simply try to do a little bit better each time, eventually I'll be at least better than I am today. Maybe someday, even pretty good.
When I whine, "I'm not gonna qualify for a black belt til I'm 60!", my heart answers, "You'll be 60 anyway. Won't it be cool if you are even CLOSE to getting a black belt?" And if I never get a black belt, well, at least I'll be in pretty good shape.
And if I can't enjoy the workout while I'm doing it (OHMIGOD!!! THIS HURTS!!!) at least I can feel virtuous AFTER the workout.
Same with my art.
If I let myself flail, then when I'm doing bookwork, I feel guilty I'm not putting a fiber piece together. And when I'm sewing, I feel guilty I'm not getting that jewelry order together. And when I'm packing that jewelry order, I'm frantic because I'm not working on that writing assignment.
What do I accomplish?
A huge guilt complex and no joy.
That's gotta go. I want to let go and be in the moment, enjoying just what I'm doing RIGHT NOW. Then let go and be in the NEXT moment.
The longterm goal? The right to say, "I'm an artist." Maybe someday, "I'm a financially successful artist!" Or maybe even "I'm an internationally acclaimed artist!"
Or simply, "I love what I do. And I wouldn't trade what I do for ANYTHING."
If we can learn to do what we can, if we can let go of the "shoulda, coulda, woulda's", if we can leave our studio at the end of each day with the satisfaction of work well done and know we've done the best we can, if we can lose ourselves in the moment of the pure joy of making something W*O*N*D*E*R*F*U*L, what more could we ask from our avocation?
Eyes on the prize.
