THE RIGHT MINDSET

 by Phillip Starr

The young karate student stood still, his fist chambered at his hip, staring at the board that he was supposed to break. An older student dutifully held it up in front of him, waiting. The novice did his best to remember what his instructor had told him, “Think PAST the board! Punch at something behind it!” Alright, then...he'd aim at his partner's chest. He closed his eyes as he took a breath, and then with a loud shout, he fired his punch. And the board split in half as if it were just papier-mache! The young man's spirit soared! He felt as if he'd just achieved the impossible.

And so he had achieved the impossible; impossible for him, anyway. But more than that, he had unconsciously learned an invaluable lesson – one that even his instructor may not have considered; that he can do whatever he genuinely BELIEVES he can do. And that goes way beyond breaking an inch-thick piece of pine!

If instead, the student had focused on the surface of the board, or is he was fearful of hitting it (because it might hurt a bit), or if he doubted his ability to break it, he would certainly have failed.

This lesson applies to life, not just to breaking pieces of wood.