Actifit Report: The Point of No Return

What Will You Do In 2019?

Yes, it seems late for me to be asking you this, when the year is already two weeks old. Yet here, already, is the point at which many ‘commitments,’ made in the rush of New Year excitement, begin to waver...

Several times in conversation in the past 2 weeks I’ve mentioned that unique experience of the point of no return. In martial arts we experience it on the mat regularly. That point when your balance is taken and you’re going to fall, you either roll or you go splat - not falling is not an option. That point when your opponent has stepped into the strike, you either blend fully or you get caught under the blow - not engaging with the strike is not an option.

Engaging with the point of no return is part of what makes Aikido fun, and makes it an effective tool to sharpen the mind and train the body. How often in life do you experience this type of commitment? People like to say, “failure is not an option,” but in truth it almost always is an option. The most likely option, unless you are able to commit fully to the course of action you’ve decided to take.

Last week, when I said “I’ll send out the newsletter,” to my dojo mates, there was no clear point of no return. There were many other ways forward, many other places I might put my attention. Failure was an option. It was the path I took.

For this dojo, I expect more of myself. We have an amazing dedicated group of students that we’d like to see grow in 2019. We have an exciting lineup of seminars and events scheduled! Most of all, we have a community of people willing to help each other see our commitments through.

The above is adapted slightly from the newsletter I wrote to my dojo this week. Much of what I said about commitment applies to investing, Steemit/Steem dapps, whatever you are into. The key is practice engaging with that point of no return. Knowing when you're at that place where pulling back only hurts you, and you had better give it your all. Better yet, going to that point, on purpose.

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Martial Arts