We are not solitary creatures; we can’t be like that lonely tree in the middle of nowhere. And even if you could do that as a human, it wouldn’t be healthy at all anyway.
There is something very unique and special in being in contact with another being; and this is why, during your martial arts training, there seems to be a relatively potent shift in perception during contact training. This shift is very unique in that it encompasses not just a philosophical thought, but also, a tangible-----and a physically accessible [gateway] to our own private mental and emotional make-up. This accessibility seems to reach a state of practical, real euphoria as we train and struggle with our teammates, and that sense of detachment that I call "euphoria" seems to shift and intensify more as we get to clinching and ground fighting, where the number of contact points increase and become more direct and more well-defined. In that state of mind, while training, we forget ourselves entirely, and become sort of detached from ALL of our personal problems, our life-cares, worries, hardships, anxieties, angers, depressions---------that sense of void and worthlessness, and all the things that we may be dealing with all day long within our most private thoughts.
In life, there may be things that you have full control of, and also things that you don’t have any control. We must change the things that are in our control for the better, regardless of how backward others may be doing it. In addition, the things that you [cannot] change, you must detach yourself from them and let them be, because there must be a wisdom behind them and you may find out those reasons in the future.
This approach and mentality of recognizing what is in our control that we can change, and what is not in our control, would become more and more apparent as we maintain our martial arts training. You learn the proper mental and emotional responses to various struggles every time you show up to training. For example, if your teammate is far better than you in stick fighting or Jiujitsu, well…..you would keep getting hit or you tap out. Either way the concept of accepting our helplessness in the things we are not able to control or change, as well as recognizing our confidence in the things that we CAN change, would eventually become a healthy and growing response- pattern to training and general life-events.
Such practical response-patterns would ultimately prove to be a viable "emotional content" in your private and social life, and can help you decipher the things you cannot change at the moment, BUT at the same time, feel confident enough to also accept the things that you CAN attain or change. Our martial arts can empower you to organize your thoughts and emotions and be more practical in life.
No matter how down you feel, and how tests, trials, and chaos are hitting you from every direction, show up to training and get a sweat going with your teammates. Be hopeful and happy always, because in life, good or bad, one day it will all be vanished and forgotten.
SHAHRAM MOOSAVI