Thought has Energy

I had coffee with a friend the other day and we discussed the topic of finding inspiration in doing what you like to do. He told me his struggle as a fighter for 10 years. All he wanted to do was kickbox, but he had so many things going against him. Without any higher education, any regular job, or anyone supporting him, all he had was his passion to fight, but he knew he could make something of it. After moving across the country to pursue better opportunities as a fighter, he was living off the couches and floors of friends while training. He also worked part time as an fight instructor to earn a living. He took high profile fights when they were available, and all his fans and students came out in force to support him. Indeed he improved his fighting skills, but he also began to see his strength in teaching others how to fight. About 6 years ago, he injured his shoulder during training. Realizing that he needed to evolve his passion into something sustainable, he decided that he was going to open his own gym for fighters. His passion evolved from fighting to training others how to fight. He planned for years on his gym, incorporating his experience, his contacts, and his skills. When the right opportunity arose, he was ready to execute. Now he owns a successful gym training fighters with a second gym in the works. He says it's very hard work running his own gym, but he loves what he does and still sees better things ahead. He bought a new house, a new car, and works all the time. He admits that his personal and business expenses are over $20,000 a month, and he knows he has to make at least that much just to keep this all going. I cringed at that level of responsibility and asked him how he kept his motivation to keep going. He smiled at me and said that if he spent time worrying about how much he needed to make every month, he would be putting energy that he doesn't have to spare into something that's self defeating. Just as he had to do during the tough times as a fighter, he doesn't think about things that don't help his progress. There was no doubt in his mind that his thoughts have potential energy that can be used to feed his passion rather than his worries.

A lot of attention has been given to this new age type thinking, but it is very rare that I actually meet someone who could can live and breathe it in practice as my friend has done. He later sent me a mobile phone text telling me that he also found inspiration in people like me who have courage to go after their dream. I'm glad I asked him to coffee on an otherwise boring day. Inspiration doesn't come very often, but when it does I tuck the thought away in the back of mind because it too has potential energy will help shape my destiny.