What martial arts taught be about CBT

As you may have read in my Bio, I have been practicing traditional martial arts for over fourteen years, and assistant-teaching for over four years. I originally got into martial arts out of curiosity, and because I wanted to get in shape. I have received so many benefits to my physical and mental well-being as a result of this training, but right now, I’d just like to focus on one of these benefits.

As one trains, one gets into increasingly demanding forms (sequences of movements.) They are demanding in terms of strength, endurance, balance and concentration. Fourteen years is a long time, but when I look back on what I have learned to do and how far I have come since I started, I am amazed. I never really thought I could get this far ever. I didn’t know I’d stick with it this long, but also, having not very much in the way of an athletic background, I didn’t think I could get this far even if I did stick it out.

I am currently taking an online course through the Beck Institute, and, in one of the course videos, there is an actor portraying an aspiring therapist, who is anxious about taking this same course. At one point, she says that she thinks there may be too much material to learn. One of the instructors suggests that one way to help the aspiring therapist alleviate her anxiety is to have her recall a past major accomplishment, and the steps she took to get there.

This immediately resonated with me and brought to mind this morning’s martial arts lesson. When I reflect on my unathletic past, I can barely believe what I was able to do today. Knowing I could get that far means that I can accomplish a great deal, if I just take one step at a time and recognize that it won’t happen all at once. Every new challenge I have in my career and in my personal life is a lot easier to face if I reflect on my accomplishments in martial arts.

What have you learned to do that you never thought you could handle? It doesn’t have to be athletic or academic – it can be being a good mother or playing a musical instrument or artfully sketching a landscape. As long as it took you time and continuing practice to get to that point, it’s a good example to remind you that you can handle life’s challenges.