Every Tuesday night, every Thursday night, and every Saturday morning - for 5 years - I trained with my teacher in the studio. On the off-days, I trained on my own. We trained in Hapkido, a Korean martial art.
Holding my black belt the first time, I was present to the accomplishment of my years of intentional training. I was also present to the fact that I was still just a beginner!
The story of the martial arts belt reflects this feeling:
Beginners wear a white belt. The belt is clean and new.
As beginners learn and train, the belt darkens with their experience - dirt, sweat, and blood. The belt turns shades of yellow and then brown. Eventually, with enough years of training, the belt is so worn and stained that it’s black. Hence, the black belt symbolizes mastery.
Then an interesting thing happens.
As the training continues, the black surface frays, and eventually the black outer layer of the belt falls away to reveal another layer of white beneath.
The master is at a new level of being a beginner.
You see, mastery is an endless process. It’s a mountain without a top. It’s a journey with no destination.
When we’re on the path to mastery in life, there are some achievements to highlight levels of mastery, but there usually isn’t a single moment where we’ve earned the “black belt.” Instead, on our path to mastery, we have black belt moments.
Black belt moments don't come when our circumstances are perfect and everything is going exactly as we want.
Instead, black belt moments show up in how we relate to our circumstances, particularly when they're challenging.
In other words, every breakdown we experience is an opportunity for a breakthrough.
We're always in training, and black belt moments are the result of black belt training.
Have more black belt moments in the areas of your life that matter: put in more black belt training.
Thanks so much for reading. ❤️
P.S. There are three ways you can support yourself by working with me: one-on-one coaching, the Mind Mastery Experience happening on April 7, and hiring me to work with your team, group, or organization. Connect with me when you’re ready. 💌