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Ken's avatar

Great post. How does ego factor into facing down these challenges that build resiliency? I imagine someone would need a healthy ego to face challenges like this. Not too low or the inevitable failures would be devastating; not too high or they wouldn’t honestly own up to their areas of improvement.

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Ed Latimore's avatar

Eventually we have to get our ego's dragged through the mud. That makes you more resilience. Falling down to get back to stand longer before next fall

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L D's avatar

Repetitio est mater studiorum. Daniel Coyle wrote an interesting book "The Talent Code" that highlights changes in our brain as we learn new skills.

However, equally important are many other factors that enable us to achieve great things: sleep, rest, breathing, hydration, etc.

I have to say that in certain situations boxing may be great. However, try to sail through a heavy storm when the only opponents are the nature and your mind/body. Alternatively, try to practice Qi Gong by doing "nothing" for hours. Or, before you decide to start swimming count the number of strokes it takes the world champion to swim across the pool and set that as your goal, then deal with all the hidden pains and traumas in your body before you reach the flow state i.e. when you could, seemingly, swim forever whilst feeling the urge to sing under water.

Back to boxing. Lets travel back to the pre-industrial past when armies of 10,000 or more warriors on each side clashed by using swords. How many times do you think they had to lift those swords vs a boxing match? I always think of them as super-fit humans.

I believe the only opponent we have is ourselves. Everybody else is an inspiration. Our journey of growing up is the only Resilience that matters.

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𝐃𝐮𝐕𝐀𝐘 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐗's avatar

I can identify. Fought as Top Ranked Amateur via the Air Force. Then, got out an became a Professional Sparring partner for CORY SPINKS and TONY MARTIN (who later was one of JULIO CHAVEZ'S last fights) among others. But that ROAD of HARDSHIP leading to it, Maynnnnnne..... So keep doing what U Do, Brotha. Ya Story is needed and no doubt, being HEEDED.

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Mila Popovic Geoui's avatar

True, that’s the only path.

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Cary Cogdell's avatar

‘The real secret here is that you have to find the upper limits of your capabilities and work there.’ This statement is good. You can increase your capacity to work and you can build resilience like a muscle. Thanks for the excellent article, Ed!

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Reputation Intelligence's avatar

Fantastic lessons, expertly communicated. Powerful.

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