The Art of Jiu-Jitsu

Using an opponent's force against them is the fundamental teaching of the Jiu-Jitsu art. When two equal and opposing forces go head to head the force is neutralized. If the forces are unequal, one side gains a marginal victory. Using the force of an opponent requires little or no energy of your own. It is simply a matter of redirecting a force that could have been opposed.

Like Jiu-Jitsu, it is inevitable we will face "challengers" in life. These challengers are the unexpected events that at first seem totally against us. This is a force outside of ourselves we must learn to effectively handle. We can oppose this force and use up a great deal of energy in the process- or we can redirect this force to serve us.

We may not be able overthrow the events of life but we can overthrow their effects. When we face challenging circumstances rather than look at it negatively, deny it, talk about how bad it is or give up - we can look to see the good in it; we can see how it fits into our ultimate purpose and redirect the energy.

Imagine you lost a great deal money. You spent your entire lifetime up to this point making it and suddenly one day something unexpected happens and you lose everything. At first this seems like a big, giant, hairy opponent that's going to require a lot of time and energy to wrestle with. But then you shift your perspective from a life warrior to a life Jiu-Jitsu master. You think, maybe if you had continued your life with the comfort and security of money in the bank you wouldn't have made any changes - changes that might be necessary to your growth as a soul. Your purpose wasn't to feel comfortable financially. You needed the pressure to jar your motivation. You realize you have the accumulated knowledge of your entire lifetime still with you. With that knowledge, getting ahead shouldn't require near as much time as it took the first time around. And now you've got a chance to regroup and choose a new direction that's right for your life.

Suddenly you look up and amazingly your opponent has begun shrinking. He's no longer so big. In fact you've gotten bigger. With the force of the challenge now allied with your purpose you've grown in power. There's no denying the challenge still exists but the shift in power alters the outcome significantly.

This article is part of the James Rick Daily Vitamin by James Rick, a daily blog that merges our understanding of spirit with the physical world. James Rick is author of Full Potential, a revolutionary guide to mastering your life in stages. He is also a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO of two international ventures. More can be learned at JamesRick.com.