Lessons We Learn Along The Way


I recently attended my first live boxing competition. Growing up, I was always captivated by Mike Tyson’s matches and the adrenaline they brought. Watching this match as an adult, however, gave me some deeper reflections on life:

1. Fight for Your Destiny It might sound like a religious cliché, but I was reminded of Matthew 11:12, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” That boxing match was a vivid illustration of this. Life requires us to fight for what we want—nothing comes easy. In two bouts, one featuring male boxers and another with female competitors, the outcome was the same: the fighter on the offensive ultimately won. Neither bout ended with a knockout, but after all nine rounds, the boxer throwing the most punches earned the victory. Life rewards those who take action, not those who merely defend.

2. Never Lose Focus Although we are promised victory in life—because God says we are more than conquerors—we must remain focused. Throughout the match, spectators yelled advice and opinions, but the boxers never lost sight of their opponent. They were locked in on the prize. Similarly, in life, distractions are everywhere. If we lose focus, even when we're ahead, we risk letting setbacks, delays, and stagnation creep in. Just as in boxing, when we lose concentration, our adversary gets an opening to strike. We can’t move forward if we’re stuck dealing with the same obstacles over and over.

3. Confidence is Key One bout featured an older fighter going up against a newcomer. It was the shortest and most surprising match—over in less than five minutes. The older man kept falling out of fear, essentially giving up without being hit. On the other hand, the newcomer, brimming with confidence, dominated. This shows how crucial confidence is in life. Sometimes, it’s not about what you know or even experience—it’s about believing in yourself. When we exude confidence, fear dissipates, and our opponents, or challenges, have no choice but to back down.

I hope these lessons from my time at the match with my best friend resonate with you too.

Xoxo,
Mamatembo Safari


Comments