When Times Get Tough

As an amateur boxer preparing to train for my first fight I began to realize the correlation between how I fight in the ring and how I live my life out of the ring. Some say boxing is a great lie detector! It's just you up there in that squared ring. No one to hide behind, no teammates to pass to, just you! Competing shows you who you really are, your strengths and your weaknesses, you bare it all! It can be very scary and incredibly empowering!

There are times in your training and in competition when things get tough. You are losing the fight, you mind isn't in it, you are distracted, you have a bad day of training filled with frustration...how do you handle tough times? Do you give in and give up? Do you dig down deep and keep fighting? Do you change your attack or strategy? Do you breath and focus? Do you blame yourself or others for not preparing you? Do you accept it and keep moving forward?

You don't have to have fought in the ring to know the answers to these questions. Simply think back to a time when life got tough and maybe things seemed like they would never get better. What did you do in that time? How did you show up?

Whether you ask yourself these questions about life, training or fighting you will find the answers enlightening. Knowing these answers can help you see what you need to change in order to be successful inside and outside of the ring.

Now I know that fighting is not for everyone, nor should it be, but for those of you that have contemplated the idea of fighting (sparring or competing) and have yet to step up and make strides towards doing so...what is stopping you? The answer is...you! I invite you to take the challenge and test yourself. Put yourself in a position where you will be learn more about yourself than ever before. You will learn how tough you are mentally and physically, you will learn where you are strong and where you are weak, you will learn how you show up in life especially when times get tough!

Sometimes we need to test ourselves to see where we are at otherwise we will keep moving through life without being our best. We will stay safe, small and just on the brink of our best self without ever manifesting it!

So what did I learn about myself thus far after training for almost a year and fighting my first amateur match? I learned that no matter how tired I am I never give up! Which is parallel to my life...I have had my fair share of tough times and the thing I am most proud of is that I kept going and never gave up even when others thought I couldn't do it. I learned that I keep moving forward and I stay on it. I am focused! I will be damned if something or someone gets in my way of achieving what I set out to do. I also learned I need to work on relaxing and attacking situations from an angle. Sometimes attacking head on in the ring and in life is not the best strategy. I need to work on changing my approach and not getting tunnel vision. I also need to continue working on trusting my instincts. Fighting is the physical display of the mental game. Every time I get in that ring I learn something new about myself and become more confident and empowered!

My intent in blogging about this topic is to encourage each of you to assess how you handle things when times get tough. I want you to take a moment to get real with yourself and look at how your get in your own way and where you excel. I want you test yourself and become the best you! I want you to challenge yourself to approach life's challenges from a new position and grow from each tough experience.

Here are Warrior Fighting Sports & Fitness we pride ourselves on investing in each individuals growth and development in and out of the ring. We have coaches in your corner supporting, motivating and challenging you to do more than you thought you could!

Knows that how you fight in the ring is parallel to how you live life! And I know that I never give up, I keep moving forward and I stay focused! It also teaches me what I need to work on both in and out the ring...relaxing, not always attacking things head on and trusting my instincts! Learning about yourself is key to success...what have you learned about yourself when things get tough?