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What Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About Being a Better Writer
Five things I learned and applied to my writing from my time on the mats.
1 There is always somebody better.
I recently finished the book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson. I was impressed and disheartened at the same time, impressed because I learned a lot and was thoroughly entertained.
Yet disheartened because I couldn’t help thinking, how could I ever be as good as that? Here’s a guy who has a black belt in writing. He has more life experience than I ever will. He knows how to grab the reader by the heart with ease and present his thoughts with compelling clarity.
I, on the other hand, you might call a blue belt writer. I give it my best effort, but I am by no means a natural. No matter how hard I try, my words don’t seem to flow with the power and technique of others. That leads me to my second point.
2 Check my ego at the door.
Just because I am not Mark Manson does not mean I have to let it get to me. It doesn’t mean I have to get petulant and pity myself. There is no need to put me down unnecessarily. Yes, there is always someone better, but who cares? I am only in competition with myself. If I was a better writer this week than I was last week, that is a success.
