Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/dlussier/archive/2013/10/28/154483.aspx

During a boxing workout a few months ago our trainer had us do something called “breadbaskets”. That’s where you hold your arms up and a partner punches you in your midsection – your breadbasket.

I put my arms up, and braced for impact. The trainer came over, saw I was a bit nervous, and coached me through.

I can see the fear in your eyes. Don’t be afraid to take the punch. Tighten your core, breathe through the hit. Don’t panic.

Over the summer we’d do counter drills as well. This is where a partner throws a punch, you defend but also throw one back – a counter punch. You never just sit back and take a beating, you deflect the blow and come back with one more powerful.

These lessons on fighting can apply to all aspects of our lives and any attempts at success that we have. I saw this image recently and agree with it 100%:

Success is never a straight forward line. It’s messy, its wrought with failures, its learning over time and applying those life lessons. It’s learning how to take punches and lose your fear, its seeing a punch coming and countering it, but most of all its not giving up and continually moving forward.

We do stairs at boxing, which is running up and down three flights of stairs. I’m not anywhere near incredible shape and after doing multiple stairs in a single workout you can feel gassed, tired, even discouraged after hitting the second floor and seeing everyone else running by you. I read a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that I cling to throughout my day:

You want to be successful? Take the punches, but learn how to take them. Counter them. and no matter what, always move forward.