CCE - Center for Coaching Excellence

By Jerome Daley

Two Saturdays ago, I had my black belt test. It was the culmination of four years of studying Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art. I originally began because it was a way to do an activity with my son, Thorpe. But when he decided to pull out, I was having too much fun and stayed in.

On the left here, you can see the "shine" my daughters created from the cinder block I broke...and the reason I'm sharing this with you is that it has become a powerful symbol of breaking through in the realm of life. I think you'll be able to relate!

Life has a way of resisting us. Would you agree?

Resistance, challenge, discouragement, opposition--even for the most optimistic among us, we have to acknowledge that life is not easy. Here are a few things I learned from a cinder block about breaking through:

1. Belief. Before last Saturday, I had never broken a cinder block. The only reason I even chose to break one in the test was because my instructor asked me if I wanted to. Clearly, he thought I was capable of doing it. And I was naive enough to believe him. Because he believed in me, I was able to believe in myself.  Who believes in you?
2. Focus. Three and a half hours of testing was behind me. It was now time to confront the cinder block. I had to put the crowd out of mind...the anxiety out of my mind...and focus upon this obstacle that resisted me. One thing is for sure: You won't break through resistance by accident. It requires an intentional posture of focused expectation.
3. Repetition. My plan was to break the block with what is called a "hammer fist"--striking with the bottom fleshy part of my fist. Which I did. And the block did not break! My backup plan was to use an elbow strike, driving down with the forearm. I was stunned when that, also, failed to break the block. I wasn't sure what to do...and hated the thought that I would have to leave this test in defeat. My instructor coached me on modifying my angle of strike, and I decided to give it a third go. I put my entire body into the strike...and was equally stunned when I broke through.
4. 

What is resisting you in your life right now? It may not be as visible or tangible as a cinder block--but I believe you can break through just as well. I encourage you to bring others alongside your breakthrough mission, so that they can believe for you and with you! Next, focus your full attention and resources upon this challenge with an inner posture of focused expectation. Finally, don't give up...even when repeated efforts fall short.

Once you do break through--and you will!--set up your own "shrine," a visual reference point for God's triumph in your life. Then ally yourself with someone else for their breakthrough. And don't forget to yell when you break. :)