The other day I was talking to a co-worker about how I'd received a promotion to Purple Belt.  My thoughts were along the lines of how I didn't feel ready for the promotion and how I was just getting comfortable as a Blue Belt.  I mentioned how I felt that there was more to achieve and that I was enjoying winning some tournaments finally.  Laughing, my co-worker responded, "Listen to what you just said, that you were getting comfortable as a Blue Belt".  I stopped for a second and thought about it as they continued, "if you are comfortable, you aren't learning and you aren't pushing yourself".  (insert Mic Drop here)

Once I stopped and digested all of that, it made some sense...and I had to look no further then to my instructor for an example.  My instructor, Brian, continually pushes himself and isn't satisfied with the status quo.  I'm sure he could sit back and rest on his laurels, compete at smaller tournaments, run his school, and still be better then us by miles.  But he doesn't.  A few times a week he drives to the city to train at Unity Jiu-Jitsu under the tutelage of Murilo Santana.  Here, he is pushed by others and pushes himself past his comfort zone.  He is a Black Belt, the top of the food chain, but he is continually learning in his training and in his competitions, win or lose.  If he wanted to be comfortable, I would think he'd stay at home.  

Lets' keep looking a bit deeper.  I've been hunting for a new job for a bit now with no luck. There is nothing wrong with my current job aside from 1) the fact I get paid less to do the same job that others do and 2) I'm not challenged.  Issue one aside, I'm not challenged in any sense with my current position, not intellectually, not task wise, nothing.  Now, roll that in with the financials and you have me hunting for a new position. Should I be grateful to have a job? Because I am, it has good benefits and time off.  But I know I can do better if I find or am given the opportunity.  I'm not comfortable being comfortable, I need to be challenged which is why I'm looking for a new position.  Why should Jiu-Jitsu be any different?

Do I want to be satisfied with the status quo?  Or, like my reasoning for my endless search for a new job, do I want to have a new challenge?  Either way, I'm about to be challenged shortly.  My shoulder is about 95% so I went ahead and registered for the tournament in two weeks which I'd planned on registering for before my injury and before my promotion.  Things will be getting interesting.