“Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior.” – Shoshin Nagamine (1907-1997)
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If you draw inaccurate conclusions about what you’re capable of doing, you’ll limit your potential.
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Karate practitioners the world over spend so much time strengthening their bodies, improving their techniques and drills, but so many neglect the mind.
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It’s often easy to stop, or give up, by claiming that you ‘can’t’ do something. Sometimes, of course, it may be true. But the trouble is that when you tell your overly demanding sensei that you ‘can’t’, there’s someone else listening too….. YOU.
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‘Can’t’ represents and easy way of saying ‘NO’ to yourself. Saying you “can’t” is flawed thinking and those negative beliefs get reinforced.
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Once you draw a conclusion about yourself, you’re likely to do two things; look for evidence that reinforces your belief and discount anything that runs contrary to that belief.
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Someone who develops the belief that they ‘“can’t” do something, for example, will view each mistake as proof that they’re not good enough. When they do succeed at something, they’ll chalk it up to luck.
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Consider for a minute that it might not be your lack of talent or lack of skills that are holding you back. Instead, it might be your beliefs that keep you from performing at your best.
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Doing what you really want to do starts with believing it’s possible, no matter how difficult it may seem.
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As an example. Marathons are one of the most physically and mentally demanding tests of endurance. On top of good physical preparation, it also requires mental training. Why? Because as soon as the body feels like it can’t go on, the mind helps it to keep going.
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Do you know why most people say “can’t” and doubt themselves before trying anything?
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A lack of self-confidence….. and fear. Fear of bad results, fear of change, fear of denial, fear of failure.
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Confidence is fragile. It builds up slowly, but can shatter like glass. Learning can sometimes be a difficult endeavor. But how you say things matters. The subliminal result of all those “I can’t(s)” could be leaving you lacking in confidence. What you think directly influences how you feel and how you behave.
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The one thing we all have in common is that we struggle. It is a part of being human. Without struggles our character wouldn’t grow. We may not get to choose the outcome but we all have the power to choose how we react to the experience.
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With practice, you can train your brain to think differently. When you give up those self-limiting beliefs, you’ll be better equipped to reach your greatest potential. 
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