For example, I swore off cigarettes so many times that certain members of my friends and family got to the point when they (wishing me the best, of course) would roll their eyes every few months when I would tell them that I quit, yet again.  In fact, I’m off cigarettes right now (for life, I assure you) but there are still some who will believe it when they see it, I have cried wolf so many times. There are other things that I find easier to stick with and see through to completion.  I just recently received my Master’s degree in Business Administration, which was an expensive, time-consuming and difficult 30 month commitment.  There are other examples as well.  Examples of self-improving things that I have resolved to do and done successfully, as well as many examples of good ideas that have fizzled out.  I am totally serious about the cigarettes this time, however!  The point is that I don’t want to become stagnant in my life.  I believe that we are all moving in one direction or the other at all times.  We have all heard the old adage, for example, that ‘if you’re not making money you’re spending it.’  I must overwhelm myself with positive influences and forward motion in order to avert the risk of falling back into negative and reckless habits.  Improvement is fun; it makes me feel good about myself.

One thing that I have found from dabbling in this topic for some years now is that positivity is contagious.  I have found that when I stop smoking and drinking, for example, people see a change in me in only a few weeks.  It makes them do something to positively impact their lives.  Maybe my cousin will slow down on his smoking and drinking after spending time with me for the first time in a while.  Maybe its other friends that will start jogging in their free time or a relative will read more or volunteer.  I have witnessed these types of events first-hand.  I do not take credit for it, though I happily encourage them.  Sometimes they don’t even consciously associate their new lifestyle decision with mine, which is completely fine.  But the fact is that often times they are associated. I caught the Indianapolis  Jiu Jitsu bug from a buddy of mine.  He doesn’t live in this town.  He doesn’t train under the master, Marcello Monteiro  at his Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu School on the south side of Indy, nor does he supplement his game on BJJ COACH , as a great many BJJ practitioners and academy owners do. 

I spent a little time with this friend of mine for the first time in a couple of years not too terribly long ago.  He had been doing jiu jitsu for over a year; I saw a change in him.  The way he carried himself was different.  I had an interest in watching MMA, had some free time on my hands, and am still blessed with an able body so I gave it a try and love it.  I am not afraid to admit, however, that my buddy was the one who gave me the encouraging push that I needed in that direction.  Of course, he doesn’t train for me.  He doesn’t pay the bills for me.  He doesn’t write these blogs, study the Jiu Jitsu curriculums, launder the gi, or slather me up with icy hot occasionally when needed (thank goodness).  I have to take care of all those things myself.  But sometimes all it takes to get motivated is to see someone you like and respect having success with it for a positive change to happen in your life.  I hope that as I am improving myself I can continue to positively motivate my loved ones by them bearing witness to my transformation.

• Ryan Berry