James,
Great line of questioning and exposing your thoughts as edible chunks for all to feast. I have been training in Martial arts for just a little over 30 years. I have had no real sustained ability to drag anyone else along with me. I have found you can realize some people's temporary interests from time to time, but YOU can't make them motivated for the same things as you, past their own natural disposition. Of course I am only using this line of thinking in regards to situations were in we are discussing a free choice scenario.
I can't quote this exactly but I believe I have the gist of it. Some artist once said something along the lines of, I don't carve the stone into a statue, I simply remove the pieces of stone that are not and only the statue that was there all along remains.
In my own words, there are lots of rocks (people) that we encounter (me included and my status as a rock is often verified by the folks I work with). Over time if these rocks remain exposed to experiences that chip away the pieces that are not what they will eventually turn out to be, we will eventually learn what the rocks truly have inside them. Some will be shaped as we would like them to be and some will not.
I do not have a greatest love for a particular Martial Art. I am motivated by a desire to posses within myself an integrity with a basis in ability, confidence, security, patience and discipline. I continue to work on this daily because this is the route I have recognized and chosen to gain the cherished acceptance that provides a great deal of the fuel of my existence. It is a work in progress that I believe has no conclusion during my lifetime, so I must continue and do.
I couldn't foist that kind of thing off on some other unsuspecting soul, it just wouldn't be right. If the normal reactions of people is any indication, most people just won't have that kind of pressure thrust on them by others by choice.
As far as the rock analogy, I have been chipped down to a pile of sand, yet still no statue, I continue anyway.
Regards
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