I had finally found the mountain I wanted to hike – martial arts mountain.
When I looked at it from a distance, I could only imagine myself standing at the top, smiling triumphantly (to nobody in particular).
I felt determined, and that in turn made me feel confident and comfortable. But there was something I didn’t consider at first, and it changed the way I look at my ascent.
There’s more than one way to get to the top of a mountain.
Here’s what I realized:
- I could begin the hike from one of many different starting points (trail heads)
- Once on the mountain, I had many opportunities to pass from one trail to another
- The hike could finish in a number of different places – not all necessarily at the peak of the mountain.
More Than One Way Up
The journey was far from linear, and in some way, that made the hike more interesting.
As I climb the martial arts mountain, I can’t help but look around and compare myself to the others who are also making their ways up.
I know it’s not in my best interest, but I still find myself asking the same few questions when I look at other jiu jitsu athletes.
- How long did it take this person to get his or her black belt?
- Did this black belt world champion have success at the coloured belts?
- How often is this person training?
- What training methods is this person using?
These questions do a great job (in a terrible way) of removing focus from the path ahead.
Whether you’re on a martial arts journey or hiking a literal mountain, it’s important to keep your eyes on the few steps ahead of you – and that’s it. Looking too far ahead can get you in trouble, and looking to your left and right too often will do more harm than good.
This is metaphoric, of course, but the principle applies to more than just martial arts and hiking.
Social comparison can be harmful because you spend more of your time and energy focusing on someone else’s behaviour instead of your own.
You may start to set unrealistic or inappropriate standards for yourself, tricking yourself into thinking you’re unsuccessful because you didn’t follow in the exact footsteps of another person.
This is an inevitable issue we must all deal with. So long as there are people walking in the same direction as you, you’re bound to be curious about how your journey compares to theirs.
Pick Your Path
I haven’t made it all the way up the martial arts mountain, but there are a few things I’ve learned so far along my journey.
Most of the time, there is not a single correct way to get from point A to point B.
At that, you don’t have to make it all the way to the top to be able to say you hiked a mountain. That’s something to remember.
Although trends and patterns exist, it is comforting to consider that there are many paths to success, all of which have different starting points, obstacles along the way, and endings.
Comparing yourself to someone else doesn’t get you anywhere – unless your aim is to try to be someone else instead of pursuing your own goals.
A quick glance at a neighbour on your way up the mountain doesn’t hurt. But because martial arts, hiking, and the pursuit of mastery are generally considered individual experiences, does it really matter what the people around you are doing? For the most part, the answer is no.
All in all, I’ve become a lot happier about my journey since I put on blinders and started to focus on my own path.
My journey to the top – or wherever I decide to stop – is my own.
That’s why I love climbing this martial arts mountain.
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