One of the masters in the martial arts school I teach at has had a very challenging month.
It started off with kidney stones.
Continued with a neuroma in his foot.
And was topped off with a bicep tendon tear that separated from the attachment joint.
After sitting on the masters panel to evaluate the black belt pre-test, he was chatting with another student and I about how he just couldn’t seem to catch a break and how it felt like it was just one challenge after the next.
I looked at him and said, “That’s what those spirit tests are really for, aren’t they…?”
“Not just to prove your grit and ability to persevere when you’re healthy and in black belt testing shape…” I continued.
“But to prepare you for life… the ultimate spirit testing grounds.”
Because the thing about spirit is that the deeper it’s developed… the more of it you’ll have ready whenever it’s needed. Whether it’s needed on the mat, at home, or for your health. Spirit is spirit is spirit.
And having a deep pocket of spirit to pull from—that you’ve developed from years of training when you were healthy and didn’t need it—is about as close to a cheat code to overcoming the spirit test of life as one can get.