Yin vs YangThe Battle for Success in Life

Ever been in a fight before? Or at least almost?

Remember the rush of fear as your muscles tense, your perception expands, and sweat begins emanating from places you didn’t know had glands? Remember the feeling of time speeding up and slowing down?

These are the same feelings a new white belt experiences during their first Jiu Jitsu class. It’s like learning how to swim for the first time in an ocean of sharks trying to pull you under. The more you struggle to stay above water, the faster you will drown. On the mat, instead of sharks, there are lifelong wrestlers going at 100 miles per hour, experienced veterans laughing through your guard, and a host of other supreme athletes trying to use you as their learning dummy.  Read more... (955 words, 2 images, estimated 3:49 mins reading time)

Growing up, probably like most of you, I always wondered if I was going to be special at something.  I was told I was special many times by teachers, parents, grandparents, and other relatives (admittedly sometimes mockingly).  However, deep down inside, I really wondered, if I was special at anything, because it certainly did not seem like it.

I would try all sorts of things hoping I would be naturally talented in it.  Throughout school, I tried baseball, hockey, soccer, guitar, tennis, marketing, business, math, science, English, French, writing, film making and countless other things.  Yet, in each one of them I found the same situation:  I was not special at it, and it would take really hard work to be so.  Read more... (574 words, 1 image, estimated 2:18 mins reading time)