“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.”
(Marissa Mayer)
There are pivotal moments in life that have the power to shift our perspectives and change our path. Today’s guest post from Karen Conover is about one of those times in her life – and how she uses that experience as a teaching tool.
Karen is an entrepreneur, educator, and fourth-degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do Master. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education and has 20+ years of experience teaching children in public and private schools, as well as adults in classroom, corporate, and workshop settings. Karen owns KC’s Family Tae Kwon Do in Northern Arizona… and she is co-hosting our Happy Living Weekend Retreat!
Karen teaches us that growth comes from overcoming our fears, breaking through barriers, and gaining confidence along the way. I hope you enjoy!
As a martial artist, I’ve broken through lots of barriers and sometimes literally broken through things – since we break boards as a part of our training. Practicing martial arts teaches us to never give up, even when things get tough. This perseverance is not just applicable to the challenges of our training, but truly is a life lesson.
I remember the first time I broke a board with my hands. I had only been doing martial arts for a month or two and the instructors invited me to a special seminar. I wasn’t confident as a beginner. Truth be told, I was more in awe of those ahead of me. I never imagined I would become a black belt or like the teachers I admired. So, breaking a board was a huge challenge to overcome. I was afraid of the physical task, but after I completed it, I realized the physical element was the easy part… it was all about the mental hurdle of overcoming fear.
Once I learned that lesson, I gained confidence and applied it to my martial arts career, my parenting, and my life. I’ve since become an owner of several martial arts schools, one of the only female martial arts Masters in the state of Arizona, and a state champion. I have learned to live on my own for the first time in my adult life, parented foster kids through challenging times, and raised my biological kids through the ups and downs of our unique family life.
Overcoming challenges isn’t a martial arts thing – it’s a life thing. That’s why I like to teach people self-defense and how to break boards. I teach these concepts during seminars with “regular” people, not just practicing martial artists, because they are quick ways to learn confidence and feel successful, all while facing fear in a safe way. There are also healthy benefits to learning how to protect oneself.
Realizing that we have the power within us to overcome challenge and fear is incredible. When someone breaks through their first board, the look on their face is priceless. Young or old, the light bulb of self-realization shines bright. If we harness that energy and moment, then bottle it up to use over and over again, there is no limit to how we can apply it and grow in our personal lives.
I am looking forward to teaching these lessons with Happy Living at our Weekend Retreat in Sedona, Arizona on August 21-22. I hope you will join us as we explore the Foundations of Health — I will be specifically focusing on the areas of Mental Fitness, Physical Fitness, and even a little bit of Adventure. Click here to learn more & register. I hope to see you there!
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