The timeline for me is clearly separated to "before the first punch to the nose" and "since that moment" -- and this description is similar to just about any other person practicing martial arts that I've talked to.
The first time you get your nose punched while boxing, you have no idea what hit you, or where you are, or where the floor is. It is very disorienting, and usually quite alarming. But that experience somehow reconfigures your brain, and all the times after that are "just" irritating or painful.
And I also remember, that following that day, a lot of things in life became much less intimidating and much more tractable. For me, it was a small, but memorable, "life changing experience"
Oh god, I remember the first punch to the nose. Nearly impossible to hold back tears. It didn't hurt nearly as much as I felt my pride was hurt, my emotions. I just could not deal with it. I didn't fall down or anything. But that feeling of being punched in the nose shook me to my emotional core.
My first night training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was a similar experience. In BJJ you spar at 100%, because it's relatively safe to do so. You tap your opponent's body or the mat to signify submission. Tapping basically means 'you could have killed me'. Rolling with someone who is only one belt higher than me feels like drowning, and the first time your opponent takes your back and is choking you is the time when a lot of people panic. Learning to control my breath and the feeling of panic in order to fight to get to a better position has made a lot of other problems in my life seem small and insignificant.
The first time you get your nose punched while boxing, you have no idea what hit you, or where you are, or where the floor is. It is very disorienting, and usually quite alarming. But that experience somehow reconfigures your brain, and all the times after that are "just" irritating or painful.
And I also remember, that following that day, a lot of things in life became much less intimidating and much more tractable. For me, it was a small, but memorable, "life changing experience"