Struggling and Progressing

I am struggling and at the same time progressing. 

Even though I’m not completely on track, I am completing a decent amount of push-ups and sit-ups and am blogging faithfully. I also keep track of the other aspects of my training at home to have a broader picture of where I am and what I’m doing.

My hand form and weapon form are where I'm struggling the most. If I push myself to do more reps my knees suffer as a result. I really just want to be able to flow through a complete form without having stability issues and glitches because of my knees. My struggles are physical and mental/emotional. I have a few ideas why this has become more of an issue and am working through some things.

When I stop to consider all the moving parts of my life, efforts applied and overall engagement I should be happy with what I see. And for the most part I am. The problem is I'm also aware of lost opportunities and time wasted. 

Diet and sleep are big contributors to my overall well-being so I've restarted and am more mindful of my choices when it come to what I put into my body. Sugar is a big one for me. I seem to fight this battle over and over again. I do very well for a period of time and then I fall off the wagon. It's the winter months that tend to create havoc with my willpower. 

There has also been some added stress due to a challenging family dynamic. It’s surprising how easily good habits like healthy eating, gratitude, meditation and yoga can slide away when stressors start to build. Even though I've experience this happening I also recognized more and more moments where I consciously make positive choices. Choices that eliminate mediocrity in that moment and are building blocks towards mastery.

I feel this is a pivotal time in my training and an opportunity to define myself as a martial artist. It may not happen in one day or even one week, but I'm confident it will happen. And while my knees may cause me to be frustrated at times I'm also excited because I know there will be progression and a stronger sense of direction. I'm looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me. 

Totals

Push ups & Sit ups: 1050/12245
Hand form: 3/196
Weapon form: 9/188
KM: 42/369
AOK: 29/402
Sparring: 0/82
Blogs: 1/15
Yoga: 30/7.5 hrs
Tai Chi: 23/219
MM:24/294