Support and encouragement makes a huge difference!
Over the past year I have shared with friends, family and co-workers some details about my personal goal of achieving Shodan (1st degree black belt). I shared because of my own excitement and also to foster a network of people that could help to hold me accountable by checking in, like “how are things progressing?” Some have asked why (am I interested in karate and achieving black belt), others have inquired what it involves and a much smaller minority have themselves had some level of martial arts training. As I have now entered the “last mile” in pursuit of this goal, many have taken the time to reach out, provide support and encouragement. Some times it’s the simple “You’ve got this” and other times it’s “I will be there during your test…wouldn’t miss it!” But the support and encouragement across the board from many in my social and professional circle has been amazing.
I often reference parallel’s with my karate and black belt training and challenges with training for and running a marathon; the discipline, energy, perseverance, mind/body/spirit dimensions are centric to the individual and their own drive, motivation and “won’t quit” attitude, but there too is the support and encouragement from the “crowd” AND others who train and take the actions to achieve the goal (whether completing a marathon, triathlon or achieve their next belt in a martial art). This support and encouragement makes a big difference and can help carry me through the “last mile!”