Thinking Too Much vs. Being Mindful: Finding the Sweet Spot

Thinking Too Much vs. Being Mindful: Finding the Sweet Spot

For over a decade, this blog has been a space to explore the transformative power of martial arts. Even after all this time, I'm still occasionally struck by moments of profound clarity while on the mat. Just this past week, while working with my master on side kicks, I had one of those moments.

The side kick, though seemingly simple and taught at lower ranks, is actually quite complex. At least, that's how I learned it. Bend your knee, hike up your foot into a solid chamber, flex your foot and curl it around the shape of your kneecap, slightly turn your hip (yes, poking out your butt a little!), shoot your kicking leg out straight with toes pointed down and foot flexed, lock the extended leg for a split second, bring the foot back towards the standing leg's knee, and gracefully place your foot back on the floor. All in about one to two seconds!

As a child, the side kick was my favorite, and I was generally pretty good at it as an adult. But then life happened. Two knee surgeries, tight hips from a sedentary office job (despite my best efforts with morning walks and stretching breaks), and the undeniable creep of middle age have made executing a good side kick increasingly challenging.

So, there I was on a Tuesday night, standing on a firm-yet-squishy kicking pad against a wall to force instability in my standing leg, practicing side kicks in slow motion: chamber, kick, hold, chamber, drop. As I practiced, my master and I discussed how we pay attention to our movements during performance.

"There's a balance between thinking too much and being mindful," I mused, wobbling off the thick pad.

What I really meant was, there's a difference between thinking too much and being mindful. "Balance" was simply on my mind, a literal sensation in my body at that moment.

Martial arts, like any sport, has a significant mental component. You need to know the basics of how to do something, why, and when. You need to think about the mechanics, identify potential problems, and make necessary corrections – all within a second or two.

This is where mindfulness becomes crucial. When you're mindful, you're alert and aware, but not overwhelmed with thoughts, especially the anxious ones that can disrupt your balance, both literally and figuratively. Overthinking leads to mistakes, mental inertia, and an overall sense of unease.

In taekwondo, I'm generally good at being mindful rather than overthinking. Perhaps it's the years of practice leading to unconscious competence, the dojang being my happy place amidst the chaos of modern life, or the strong mind-body connection inherent in martial arts that allows thoughts to fade into the background.

However, I struggle with mindfulness in other aspects of my life. A mistake at work sends me spiraling into guilt and self-criticism. House or car problems trigger panic. I fear making decisions that might upset someone.

But I don't want to overthink the act of overthinking, as that defeats the purpose of cultivating mindfulness as I age and life throws curveballs. I need to find ways to consciously pull myself back into a mindful state.

Limiting social media and phone time has been beneficial, as has my trusty tool of journaling and reflection. Physical activity is the quickest way for me to clear and calm my mind. I cherish my morning walks and look forward to taekwondo class after a day of meetings and emails. My current goal is to extend that feeling of mindful presence into other areas of my life.

What helps you be more mindful as opposed to thinking too much?