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Category: Living Well

Invest In Courage And Spirit

Published on June 14, 2025

Some of the strongest people I know are the ones who have been through the most in their lives.

The idea being, of course, that strength is found in proportion to the number of adversity/challenges/obstacles faced and moved forward through.

Which means, if you want to be a strong person, it would be in your best interest to develop your courage so as to better face the adversity/challenges/obstacles of your life and then to invest in your spirit which is essentially the horse that pulls the carriage (you) forward and through whichever of the above mentioned experiences you’re facing.

If you want to develop your courage, remember that it feels the same as fear—you’re just choosing to make a different decision in spite of that feeling.

And if you want to develop your spirit, remember it feels similar to faith—you’re not sure exactly how it will all turn out, just that forward and through will lead to a better turn out than running from and away.

Without courage, you’ll never even face the correct direction (towards strength). And without spirit, you’ll be an abandoned carriage without its horse—moving exactly nowhere.

If you want to be strong, remember this and invest in courage and spirit.

Brisk Walk Black Belt

Published on June 8, 2025

Today, the Martial arts school I teach at hosted a black belt and higher degree test.

At the end of the test, one of the spectators said, “that wasn’t as hard as I remember them being… “

And what I said to them in response was, “they’re only ever as hard as the candidate makes them…. “

Martial arts tests are very much like sprints… If you engage with the test at a pace that’s equivalent to a brisk walk or light jog… of course it’s not gonna be as hard as it could be…

But, if you engage with the test at a pace that’s equivalent of a sprint and you put your whole life force into each and every move… How could it not be one of the hardest things you’ve had to do?

I’ll tell you one thing… The people who put their whole life force into the belt test put on a very different black belt/higher degree than those who give their brisk walk effort.

…And the same is true with how we engage with life.

Do It Heavy

Published on June 7, 2025

Because of sickness and some prolonged constipation issues, I went about a week without working out.

Yesterday, I had my first lifting session back and man… everything felt heavy. The weights felt heavy, my body felt heavy, even my thinking felt heavy. It was just a slog of a workout.

Today, I had my first basketball session back and sheesh… more of the same. My breathing felt heavy, my arms and lets—heavy, even the ball felt heavy when I would dribble or shoot.

…Did I curse? Did I quit in frustration? Did I try and force myself to do more than I was capable of doing?

Nope.

I just did both heavy. I let my body feel how it felt and I kept my mind focused on doing what I could in each given moment. What more was there to do?

Don’t force it. Move mindfully forward as you are and do what you will. Much better than doing nothing at all.

What Makes Me Want To Give More…

Published on June 5, 2025

When I see a student come in early and work on something I’ve taught or am curious about, I want to meet them there early and give more.

When I see a student stay late and get extra reps in on something from class or some above and beyond material, I want to stay after with them and give more.

When a students asks questions that extend beyond the scope of what’s required—that they can’t seem to figure out how to train past on their own—I want to answer those questions and give more.

When a student is struggling with curriculum and is persisting in the face of frustration, I want to step in and give more.

When a student gives more, I want to give more.

Which, isn’t to be confused with the student who constantly wants to take more.

When the student comes in early or stays late and wants me to teach them a private class… or asks questions about things they haven’t even tried to solve on their own… or wants answers to things they haven’t experienced frustration from yet… I feel like I’m being taken from as opposed to enthusiastically giving.

The difference is subtle… but, in its understanding is a powerful truth.

Invest the time, put in the effort, expend the energy yourself… and I will meet you on the other side.

Try and squeeze me for more time, effort, and energy without the match on your side… and I’ll eventually start taking away, too.

Laughably Small

Published on June 3, 2025

Does the goldfish outgrow the fishbowl? Or does a bigger fishbowl lead to growth in the goldfish?

I can argue this either way.

But, if getting a bigger fishbowl is out of your control… maybe you should focus on making the one you’re in look laughably small.

Life’s Spirit Test

Published on June 2, 2025

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.

“I Never Get Sick”

Published on May 30, 2025

I like to think of myself as a healthy person with a strong immune system.

So much so that I’ve been known to say at times: “I never get sick.”

30+ hours in bed over the last two days has me humbly updating that motto.

It’s one thing to use confidence to create a sort of placebo effect on my immune system—as a sort of reverse Munchausen syndrome mentality.

And it’s another thing to allow confidence to replace best practices for supporting my immune system.

In retrospect, there are certainly a few things I could’ve done better to both a) prevent this sickness from even getting access to my body and b) better support my immune system so it was stronger and more prepared if/when it did.

This is my humble reminder to you to yes, be confident in yourself to create that sort of reverse Munchausen syndrome mentality, but two, to simultaneously be supportive and unwavering in your efforts to keep it *actually* ready.