TFS#44: Doing What You Dislike

The natural order of our world is to follow the path of least resistance. We can always find a dozen reasons to not do something—especially when comfort is the alternative to the challenge.

But there are intrinsic benefits to accepting challenges and learning to work through obstacles.

Expanding your limits

When you start any challenge, whether it be school, a new career, or Jiu-Jitsu, you won’t understand your own limits. This contributes to the feeling of being “lost.” It’s overwhelming, and you haven’t established any bearings.

And it’s natural to shy away from challenges in addition to a new environment.

However, new challenges will provide the guidelines you need to thrive.

Obstacles will limit the amount of freedom in which you can operate and under these stressed conditions, I would argue that it makes the process easier.

That’s because with fewer options, there are actually fewer decisions to make. Putting me in a box allows me to only focus on the box.

Example: I have a love-hate relationship with competing in tournaments.

I love it because it’s fun for me to match up against strangers and get the support of my teammates.

I hate it because of how much preparation that goes into it. I have to get my mind in a certain place, adjust my training schedule (which affects my work and everything else), plan out focused studying topics for the next few weeks, clean up my diet, create time to study, etc.

It might seem excessive considering I’m just a hobbyist, but that’s how I roll!

And only after going through those challenges, you will become more realistic about yourself and see the cause and effects of outcomes objectively.

And if you decide that certain challenges aren’t getting you closer to where you want to be, then you’ve taken a step forward.

Use obstacles against themselves

As mentioned above, challenges provide constraints and these constraints are the breeding grounds of creativity and innovations.

I’m not going to say everyone will be a founder of some world-changing Jiu-Jitsu technique, but it does allow for creativity within your own game.

…And that’s all you need.

Example: Before the invention of steam power, boat captains would ingeniously navigate against the strong upstream currents of the Mississippi River. A boat going up the river would pull a boat about to head down the river, and after wrapping a rope around a tree or a rock, the second boat would let go and let the river take it downstream, shooting the other boat upstream.

In this case, the boat captains have created their path of least resistance by being innovative.

Perhaps taking a step back every so often to see if you can use an obstacle to your advantage can ease a lot of your pains.

For Your Jiu-Jitsu

→ As our bodies age, our health becomes a bigger priority. These 10 tips will help you give yourself the best chance of maintaining your youth.

→ Diversify your game and avoid a predictable guard play by adding this technique and sweep.

→ These easy-to-learn Judo throws will make your training partners tremble at the start of every round.

→ A triangle choke is a choke we all learn at the white belt level. Take 1 minute to learn these 7 steps to help improve your technique.

Closing Thoughts

Doing hard things keeps us grounded and in touch with reality.

It reminds us we are human.

It reminds us there is so much more out there for us to explore.

Which serves as a great motivator for us to continue to pursue the challenges in life.

Remember to appreciate the daily hardships.