Patience and Passion

Any new martial arts student will tell you that they are sore in places they didn’t know they could be sore, and that they felt more tired than usual their first week in class. The paradox is that once you get into a routine, you probably have more energy because of your exercise habit than you did when you just went home, sat down, and watched TV or played video games.
Reaping the benefits of this kind of practice takes something most of us struggle with: patience.
You have to be willing to go through some fatigue, soreness, and truthfully some doubt for a while as to whether or not you can actually DO this thing.
“What have I gotten myself into?!” may cross your mind.
Martial arts practice, IMHO, is one of those paths in life that lead you to become the whole human you were meant to be. Years ago my sister attended a kung fu and tai chi demonstration offered by the Austin Nei Wai Chia School – my instructor’s school. She was moved almost to tears by the time the demo had finished, and her comment was that watching the students move through their routines made her feel that she was watching human beings as they were intended to be.
I knew what she meant. My peers were supple, strong, focused, disciplined and fully present in their movements. The whole person was involved in the demonstration of impressive skill.
How did they get to that level of ability and presence?
Patience!
Most of us WANT to embrace the virtue of patience. The problem is we want it right now! What’s missing that would motivate us to have the patience it takes to study something like martial arts all the way to Black Belt (and beyond)?
Passion! Not necessarily the kind you get on a date with that special cute person, but an inner drive that moves and motivates action.
When I was growing up, my elders preached patience. They were right, of course, but they forgot to tell me that it was more fun if coupled with the fire of passion for what you are doing.
What makes one person passionate about a thing while others remain in apathy? The difference seems to lie in deeper understanding. The more you know about anything, the more fun it is to study – or play with – at a deeper level.
Life itself – simply breathing and being – is worthy of passion if you understand it at a deeper level – understand what a gift it really is.
If the idea of martial arts practice speaks to you, inspires you, resolve to develop the patience to follow that passion throughout your life. One day – sooner than you think – you will realize that soreness and fatigue are either nonexistent or irrelevant, and your passion will have taken you to a higher level of yourself – a level of full presence in the moment and full immersion of all of you into your life.
That’s great holistic living!
Juli Hartmann
Master Instructor and Owner
Texas Holistic Arts Center / Sacred Source
For more information about martial arts classes, tai chi classes, kickboxing classes, kung fu classes, massage, Reiki and holistic healing in Leander, Texas, visit http://www.texasholistics.com, or feel free to call us at 512-778-5778
Texas Holistic Arts Center offers kung fu, tai chi chuan, kickboxing, yoga, massage, Reiki and special workshops, including weaponry and Reiki instruction. www.texasholistics.com or www.TexasNWC.com
Copyright © Juli Hartmann 2009