Focus on the Seeds that You Plant

planting-seed_trowel-hands-seeds

Recently, something significant happened in my life that will require me to make certain adjustments. It was unexpected and undesired, but I’ve been able to take a step back and really analyze the situation.

I realized that there were specific choices that I made that heavily influenced the outcome. So I’ve decided to take the reminder of that lesson and apply it to other areas.

One application, of course, will focus on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

That’s the intent of this post.  I would like you to think about a simple question. What seeds are you planting every time you step onto the mats?

Ripple Effects

I’m going to take you back in time with me to my years as a white belt. Back then, I had training partners that destroyed me in the gym. It forced me to focus on small victories.

One of those early successes was just getting to half guard and being able to hold people there for significant periods of time.  It was far harder to get to closed guard, and my open guard was nonexistent.

I now look at that as a seed that was planted unconsciously because as I had success I wanted to build on it. It led to me developing a decent level of proficiency with the half guard. That’s just one example though.

Focus on the Seeds

At Evolve Academy, there’s a motto that’s emphasized:  Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes habit.  

Everything contributes to that process. The things that you do and say every day are habits that are forming, and they can be beneficial or detrimental.

If you recognize that fact, it becomes easier to focus on the seeds that will lead to the harvest that you desire whatever it may be.

Often in the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, it’s that shiny medal at the biggest tournament or that new belt that serves as acknowledgement of your growth. Both of those end results are worthless if you don’t put in the work though. It’s the effort that led to the accomplishment that matters most of all.

So focus on the work that you do day in and day out to improve.