“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” ~ Chinese Proverb
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Great teachers are important. They can give you amazing insights and help point you in the right direction. But the real question is: What will you do with all of that great instruction? It’s not enough to just take a karate class once a week and expect that you will change for the better.
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Learning karate is a lifelong process. You must be consistent and dedicated to your training, showing up for class regularly and with enthusiasm to learn. This can help us move forward a stone’s throw, or a giant leap. So, it is natural for us to seek out those that can help us, either directly or through inspiration. We should seek advice and mentorship and even study what others are doing.
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This is all well and good, but all of the learning or mentorship in the world doesn’t help if you don’t apply it.
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You have undoubtedly heard the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”…. A teacher can lead you to water, but you must drink it yourself. A teacher can open the door, but you still need to walk through.
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…….. A teacher arrived at his martial arts school to find a young boy by the door, looking despondent. The teacher asked him what the matter was.
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“It’s locked,” he said, glancing at the door dejectedly.
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The teacher then reached into his pocket to take out his keys. The young boy’s expression immediately brightened. “You’re a teacher!” he exclaimed.
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He smiled at him. “What makes you think that?” He asked, amused by the young boy’s sudden change in mood.
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“You have the key!”……..
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A teacher can give you information and present learning situations, but only you as a student can decide to actually study and learn the information. No one can make you learn, but YOURSELF…… “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” ??