What do I know about boxing!? Technically, nothing. Do I like to watch a good fight? Yes. Why? Because I like to see determined individuals make up in their mind to eliminate fear (at all costs), believe in themselves and WIN! Mayweather and Mcgregor put on an excellent show Saturday night and I was here for the Mcgregor defeat but more importantly the commentators gave me so much life, and here's why:
As I watched the fight, I was equally engaged with the commentators as I was with the boxers. I could apply everything they were saying to my own life-I know that sounds crazy but hear me out! In life we all have an opponent(s) and when we're in the ring with our opponent(s) our goal is to win. My biggest opponent is FEAR and always has been. I'm not the kind of woman to shy away from what I want or to put in the hard work but I am the kind of women to overthink things and allows fear to take over- you know the "What If" factors start to roll in; I believe in myself and I am willing to do the work, but "What if no one likes it? What if someone hates it?" What if it's not good enough?". Most recently, I've turned the volume down on fear and stepped up anyway, leaving caution in the wind but yesterday's match definitely gave me a new strategy, realizing that just throwing caution to the wind is no longer acceptable.
1. "Gain information about your opponent." Understanding their next move is critical. If you don't think Mayweather's tactics included watching several hours of McGregor's fights, your crazy! He said at the end of the fight, "My father and I learned that he goes hard for the first 25 minutes and then he begins to decline in his strength and power shots"- that equals a well devised plan. In order to win, you have to do research and devise a well thought out plan. If you don't think that I watch people, ie. designers, dancers and bloggers- learning their next moves so that I know what my next move is/should be, your crazy. I don't want to be good, I want to be great and not for the accolades but because I believe in ME and I only let me down when I don't do what I know I can do. Your opponent is you goal, you should not want to be on their level you should want to supersede the expectation that-that is the goal, set a new record! And let me say this, because it's important: Always move with a positive energy and a great attitude, getting to the top should not be executed with negativity but with respect-know your craft!!!! #study
2. "Pull him out of his comfort zone." Mayweather was expected to throw more jabs in the first 3 rounds, the commentators were shocked that he was taking so many hits. However, what he really was doing was taking McGregor out of his comfort zone. I believe that Mcgregor thought Mayweather was one way type of fighter, when in fact he was not. Once you know where you opponent doesn't like to go, doesn't want to be, doesn't know- that's where you go. Let me explain, I make head wraps; I design them, I choose the fabric, I stand up on my feet all day (after work) it's me! When I began to study other designers who make head wraps utilizing one piece of fabric ONLY with no dimensions, I knew then that's where I needed to be! I needed to be in another dimension exposing buyers to a new idea and a new way of thinking about a head wrap! So now, those same design are thinking wait, "I'm not doing that; cutting up the fabric and adding fabric- that's too much work, I don't even know where to start!" EXACTLYYYYYY #mylane and if they decided to come to this side of the track, they would be completely out of their comfort zone.
3. "Throw combinations." Mayweather showed a different side of himself last night: he took blows (to the head), he danced a little, he remained calm, he kept taking jabs and kept moving in- this completely through off all of the viewers (okay, maybe just me). I learned that you have to keep throwing combinations mentally and physically, am I doing this- of course, should you be doing this YES! I am doing a lot of thins right now (on purpose) and that is how I choose to stay on my toes and in the game. I teach and own a dance company, GOREE Drum and Dance, I own Wrapologie, I blog as Normal Black Chic and I read online stories to children on my youtube page Sankofa Read Aloud. I keep throwing combinations because it keeps me alive, is it hard work? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. Can someone call my next move? No. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying, I am not out to outshine or "beat" anyone but my own standards and limitations. #justwhenyouthoughtyouknewme
4. "Take him to the deep end and drown him." When the commentator said this, I literally gasped because I seen this image clearly- me, taking fear the farthest point in murky water, where its toes could no longer touch the bottom, its heart beating so loud that in created vibrating waves to its own desperate panicking sound and then me, pulling it under the water until life escaped its unrelenting hold. Mayweather last night pulled the life out of McGregor without landing many punches, he just kept moving forward, taking blow after blow until there was nothing left for McGregor to stand firm on. Whatever it is that is holding you back from defeat and or success take it out to the deep end. #justdoit
5. "An exhausted opponent = DEFEAT." Around round 8/9 it was visible that McGregor was not doing well and that Mayweather was just getting started. I can always tell when I am working in a state of fear and when I am not, my face is always calm but my mind feels like a sunken vessel, heavy and weighed down. I don't want to be defeated by my own limitations, I want to exhaust every possibility that whatever I'm doing won't work. In order for me to get to this point I must make up in my mind that fear will be exhausted and defeated.....#blackgirlmagic
What should you do with that information: APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!
Maybe fear is not your opponent maybe it's something else or someone else, more importantly it's stopping you and you can't let that happen. In life there have to be obstacles and like every obstacle course there is a way out, there will always be a winner. In order to get through it you have to be determined, you have to use your mind, study your opponent and think (stay on your toes, not on the ropes). You can't get tired in the 10th round and give up on yourself. Some of us will get there quickly (defeating our opponent) and some of us will get there in due time; but with determination you get there! My most recent elimination of fear pushed me to hold my first Blog Course, I'm so excited!!! This course is designed to help all individuals with starting their blogs, the right way. Check out the details below, as always thanks for reading and I'll see you again on Monday!!!
XOXO,