Last weekend, I had my ninth amateur Muay Thai fight. I lost. The verdict was a split decision, meaning that two judges had it scored for my opponent, while the remaining judge thought I won. The loss stings, as I thought I had done enough to get my hand raised. But as I limp around trying to reflect on the fight, my consolation resides in the fact that this isn't my final hurrah. There will be more fights (sorry Dad), more chances to win, and more opportunities to test myself. If this were my last fight, there would certainly be more emotions surfacing, as I would never want to end on a note like this, but that day won't come for years.
That's the beauty of diversifying.
We generally hear the word "diversify" most often in regards to investing, where this same sentiment holds true. By placing all of your money in one stock, your stress level will most likely increase, as you would be screwed if the stock were to plunge. That's why most competent financial advisors recommend diversifying your portfolio (and in turn your stresses) by putting your money in numerous different stocks and funds, thus increasing the probability that your savings will survive if one stock decides to plummet.
This concept can apply to nearly any facet in life. If you're stressed about finding a life partner, don't bank on the one whose profile you connected the most with. Go on as many dates as you can, and see who makes a lasting impression. If you're worried about getting into grad school, or being able to afford it, apply to as many schools as you can, and for as many scholarships as possible. Maybe debt is keeping you up at night. Brainstorm ways to create multiple streams of income. There's thousands out there, and all are only an action step away.
With each additional chance of success, the prospect of failure becomes less significant. The task may still be daunting, and the idea of failing will naturally still linger, no matter how much you diversify, but as your diversification rises, so does your resilience.
So keep reaching for new ideas, more opportunities, and additional options. For some people, that means investing intelligently. For others, it transcends to dating more. And for me, it means keep fighting. Sometimes it's the only thing that brings peace from the stress.
"A Single Seed" is my attempt to get out one idea every day that I've learned or accumulated over the years, with the hope that it may stick in someone else's memory bank as well. The idea may be related to fitness, business, life, or philosophy, but I think you'll find that many can change domains if you wish them to. With each seed planted, a new life awaits.
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