Boxing is a sport of skill and heart. Despite what some may believe, boxing isn’t focused on blood and bruises. It’s a sport rooted in technique and the principles of sportsmanship. Boxing is a sport whose philosophy rings true in the game of life.

Balance

Boxing teaches balance. Keep your head still and on swivel. Mind your surroundings, and stay centered. When a boxer is balanced, he’s both agile and immovable. The same concept applies to life. We live our lives happiest when we are centered in our beliefs and lead a life of balance. If we stand firm in our beliefs and convictions, the punches of life won’t move us or knock us down.

Reaction

Defense and offense in boxing are rooted in reaction. You need to read your opponent's tendencies, patterns, and strategies in order to both defend yourself and attack. Each time your opponent throws a punch, it provides you with an opportunity to slip his advance and give a counter strike. If a boxer doesn’t have good reaction, he’ll endanger his life and the odds of winning his match. Reaction is a crucial component in life. We are defined by how we react to failure, success, and adversity. When life throws a punch, are you prepared to react in positive and productive ways? Reacting properly toward our adversity in life will increase your chances of success.

Practice and Preparation

When a boxer first begins learning the sport, he must spend hours learning footwork, punching technique, defense, and punch combinations. Thousands of repetitions are required before he is ready to fight an opponent. In our careers and ambitions, we all must start at the bottom. Baby steps are required before walking. Hours of perfecting our craft is the surest way toward mastering a skill or achieving a dream.

Life is a fight in which our opponent is fear, adversity, failure, and anything standing between us and our dreams. Navigating the fight with preparation, proper reaction, and a balanced life will help set the framework for a success.