The Way of the Warrior Will Make You Invincible
7 practices to unlock your true potential
The way of the Warrior is the path to discipline, restraint, focus and honour. The path is governed by morals and codes which allow those who walk it to live a life of wellness.
I’ve recently taken an interest in philosophy and wisdom from the likes of Stoicism, Buddhism, Sun Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi, Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene to name a few. These ancient wisdom's and teachings have allowed me to view the world differently and accept Dokkōdō.
Those who walk alone accept the way of the Warrior which is the resolute acceptance of death. This has hugely inspired me to plan and act accordingly to this inevitability and adhere to the below 7 practices.
1. Don’t follow the crowd
People who blindly follow the dominant narrative don’t often have the full picture and can easily be lead down a path of destruction. Just look at the events that took place on November 18, 1978, in Guyana.
Jim Jones, a cult leader, who amassed a grand following, led his people to their untimely demise in a mass murder-suicide. He was a man who preached freedom and guarantees of reaching the Promised Land, all to no avail.
Sometimes it’s best to take up a position of stillness to watch from a distance and observe. With this vantage point, you have the added benefit of being shielded from outside influences and can watch from a far to decide what is beneficial to your life and what isn’t.
Allow sound judgement and reason to govern your actions rather than following blind leaders who have no real substance or integrity.
2. Apply the right tools for engagement
There is a wide range of tactics at your disposal to tackle any situation. As the saying goes, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” This is to be applied to all situations we encounter in life, sometimes the best approach may not be the one that springs to mind first.
So how do we decipher which approach serves our needs rather than our wants. Miyamoto Musashi advises us not to collect or practice with weapons beyond what is useful. I understand this to mean, stick with the essentials to get the job done and don’t overstep the mark of what is required to do the job properly.
However, to counter this narrative, do not allow yourself to get comfortable with one way of doing things. Be flexible and agile enough to adapt to the situation at hand. Apply good judgement to select the right weaponry and mind set for the situation. This is how you become flexible and adaptable in a tough situation and ultimately life.
3. Do not fear failure or losses
Failure is part of life, it’s unavoidable, point blank period. A warrior is subjugated to mastery of self, to be better equipped in handling losses. We must not fear failure but truly accept it, once you adopt this mindset, you won’t feel defeated when losses eventually happen but rather inspired and prepared to attack life even harder than before.
The acceptance of failure is empowering, life isn’t a bed of roses, we all hit low moments and even rock bottom at times but preparation for these moments is what makes life worthwhile.
Don’t allow the fear of what is to come bring about stress or anxiety in your life, as long as you’re still alive you have a chance to overcome and be better — where there is life there is hope.
Some failures and losses bring about your proudest moments so don’t fret but be prepared, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson — Dalai Lama
4. Let go of attachments
Buddhists see attachment as the route of suffering, being attached to external things means we place our happiness outside of our control. Outside circumstances are beyond our control so, if you allow your happiness to be dependant on the external, you’ve put yourself in an uncomfortable position.
Accumulation of possessions doesn’t automatically mean increased happiness, it just creates a hunger for more which can never be satisfied. Clinging to your possessions only creates fear and anxiety, the fear of losing what you have and the fear of not getting what you want.
Focus on what matters, this lies within your control and is easily accessible if look deep enough within.
There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself. ― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
Becoming a minimalist is essential, throughout my life I have always had this need to obtain things and possessions that didn’t really bring any lasting happiness into my life. Recently through reading and life experiences, I’ve realised less is more, I was miserable and unhappy with my life and who I was becoming back then when I thought I had it all.
Now that I’ve humbled myself and accepted what is, I am happier and more content in life than I ever have been. I no longer need to seek attachment to luxuries, possessions, people, environments and overall things that serve no purpose in my life.
I’m more concerned at this stage, with leaving a legacy and moving with honour and humility. Running after external pleasures and vices takes a lot of effort, which can weigh you down with mental and emotional fatigue, causing problems with your overall well being.
I am more interested in developing my mind by constant learning, reading, writing, meditation and being grateful for the present moment.
5. Belief in a higher power
I am not in control and I fully accept that. I believe in God and know that not only is there a force far greater than my understanding but also that force has given me the power of choice. I have faith and know what is meant for me will enter my life and what is not meant for me will exit my life.
There are many religious and philosophical views as to why we are here on Earth, I won’t get too deep but whichever your belief, understand you are responsible for the choices you make in life. We are all guided but we choose the path we walk.
6. Accept everything the way it is
All things come and go, whether it’s people, things or places. We must embrace the temporary nature of things. Acceptance of the current state of affairs is required to strengthen the mind. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes you’ve made in the past as these mistakes can often become a blessing in disguise.
Through pain and acceptance comes wisdom. The realisation of our acceptance is an opportunity to learn and become more cautious which prevents further misery. The desire to want things to be different is understandable especially when you’re feeling down, looking at others on their come up or trying to keep up with the Jones’s.
This just leads to further pain and is a fleeting life to live. Don’t compare with others, focus on yourself and accept what is.
7. The obstacle is the way
Those who walk the path of the Warrior, understand it can be arduous. It entails sacrifice and constraint; you have to be dedicated to whatever you choose to accomplish in life.
You can achieve anything once you fully and wholeheartedly commit to a goal. Obstacles are set in place to push you further and allow you to break through any perceived limitations. You need to see the obstacle as an opportunity rather than a roadblock.
Don’t resent what is, live the best life you can with what you have now. This means empowering my mind body and spirit to break down any obstacle formed against me.
The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition — Ryan Holiday
Takeaway
As you can see, the path of the Warrior is a lonely journey, chosen only by a few. The path is not a simple feat but an honourable battle amongst an individual’s beliefs and temperance. The path will test your mental fortitude and push you beyond your limits to excel and become the best version of yourself by following these key practices:
- Don’t follow the crowd
- Applying the right tools of engagement
- Not fearing failure or losses
- Letting go of attachments
- Belief in a higher power
- The obstacle is the way
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — Lao Tzu
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