As working adults, it can be incredibly easy for us to become hyper focused on the end goal. In a long project it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and we can get discouraged. For this reason it is important to take time to celebrate the small steps within the larger goal. We need to look no further than the colored belts that we have in our belt systems for this!
In the original days of Karate there were no belts for rank. You were either an adept or a novice. Imagine being a novice that just started training alongside another novice that had been training for years. You would probably be discouraged. After all, you are in the same position as this other person yet they are much more proficient than you are! Without the different intermediate belts, it is hard for you to create a measurement of where you are in your journey. Imagine being the more experienced novice now. You are the same rank as someone that just started. How do you know what progress if any you are making?
Colored Belts offer us the ability to celebrate our incremental growth throughout our journeys. Looking back to my colored belt days I always remember getting excited and motivated at the same time whenever I would get a new belt. There is science to back this up. Reaching a goal even if it is a small intermediate one, causes a rush of dopamine into your system. This makes you feel good about yourself.
By this logic, adding new belts or merits to the progression (even if that means a camo belt or stripes on a belt) will help to keep students motivated! Hypothetically, if it would take you 4 years to get to 1st degree black belt, would you enjoy getting 2 belts or 20 belts more? I bet you would choose 20 belts. When the end requirements are the same, why does adding more intermediate goals cause outrage when it comes to colored belts?
When it comes to a project you are trying to complete at work or in school, make sure you give yourself imaginary orange belt and green belt goals. It is equally important to celebrate these achievements. Contrapositively, I have never met a white belt that is already nervous about the black belt test! Don’t be nervous about the entire project. Break it down into chunks!
