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The other day I was watching a movie that referenced a parable called “The Drowning Man”. In it a man refuses to leave his house during a flood because he prays that God will save him. First, someone in a rowboat comes to save him, then a motorboat, and finally, a rescue crew in a helicopter. Each time, the man refuses help because he feels that God will intervene. He eventually succumbs to the flood and goes to Heaven. He is upset with God for not saving him. God then says “I sent you a rowboat, then a motorboat, then a helicopter, what more do you want?”
Whether you are religious or not, there is sound wisdom in this. There are so many times where a particular idea is stuck in our heads and we refuse to open up to an opportunity that is right in front of our faces Life is fluid and dynamic. It requires us to adapt, change, and be open to what is presented to us. During sparring, doing the save move every time will never work. In the same respect, waiting for a particular opening on your opponent may never occur. If we have it in our heads that something MUST happen the way we want it to, it usually never does. See the forest for the trees. Be fluid. Be dynamic. Einstein said “Insanity is doing the same thing every day and expecting a different outcome”. We must not “block” ourselves from progress because we can’t change our way of thought. More often than not, that will lead to failure.
That is good advice. I will have to try it in sparring next time.
Being able to see ‘opportunities’ is such an important skill to have in a fight–and in life. It’s a trait is consistent amongst some of the most successful people that I know.