To start things off, I'd like to share with you my thoughts on what it means to be a warrior. I've posted these on my personal Facebook page, but I wanted to put them all together here. Please feel free to comment, I always welcome feedback.
The Warrior makes no excuses. Only Improvements.
The Warrior does not accept "Fate", nor does he blame his struggles on others, or on events outside his control. Rather, he must adapt to changes, and realize that his challenges come from choices he has made, and actions he has taken. In accepting this Truth, the Warrior can achieve a serenity that has been missing from his life. This is not to be confused with resignation to a new reality, but rather an adaptation to the fluidity of life.
The Warrior must not seek to burden others with his troubles. He is the strong shoulder for those who depend on him. Those who are under his protection must know that he will guard their lives, and their secrets with all that he has. Their trust in him must be justifiably complete. His word, his honor must be above reproach. He must be able to rely on his fellow warriors, and be willing to put his life in their hands, if the situation arises, and they must be able to trust their lives in his hands.
The Warrior must care for and improve his most important weapons - those being his Mind, his Spirit, his Heart, and his Body. He must harden his Body, that it will not fail when he must have strength. He must sharpen his Mind, always seeking knowledge and wisdom, that no adversary will outwit him and the solution to no situation will be beyond his ken. He must expand and focus his Spirit, so that self-doubt, indecision and uncertainty never defeat him. He must soften his Heart, for the actions of the Warrior must always stem from love, never hate or anger. If he strikes due to negativity, his cause is no longer just. Rather, he has become the antithesis to the Warrior, and no longer treads the true Warrior's Path.
The Warrior must harness his emotions. This is not to say that he must feel no emotion. On the contrary, he feels more deeply than most. He must, however, not allow his emotions to dictate his actions. His emotions should remain private, because in being demonstrative with emotional reactions, he allows others leverage to use against him.
The Warrior must acknowledge his basest desires, admitting to himself that, yes, even those who walk the noble path will, at one time or another, consider actions that are far removed from the person he strives to be. He must overcome his fear of these desires. Only by facing his fear of himself can the Warrior realize his true potential.
The Warrior makes no excuses. Only Improvements.
The Warrior does not accept "Fate", nor does he blame his struggles on others, or on events outside his control. Rather, he must adapt to changes, and realize that his challenges come from choices he has made, and actions he has taken. In accepting this Truth, the Warrior can achieve a serenity that has been missing from his life. This is not to be confused with resignation to a new reality, but rather an adaptation to the fluidity of life.
The Warrior must not seek to burden others with his troubles. He is the strong shoulder for those who depend on him. Those who are under his protection must know that he will guard their lives, and their secrets with all that he has. Their trust in him must be justifiably complete. His word, his honor must be above reproach. He must be able to rely on his fellow warriors, and be willing to put his life in their hands, if the situation arises, and they must be able to trust their lives in his hands.
The Warrior must care for and improve his most important weapons - those being his Mind, his Spirit, his Heart, and his Body. He must harden his Body, that it will not fail when he must have strength. He must sharpen his Mind, always seeking knowledge and wisdom, that no adversary will outwit him and the solution to no situation will be beyond his ken. He must expand and focus his Spirit, so that self-doubt, indecision and uncertainty never defeat him. He must soften his Heart, for the actions of the Warrior must always stem from love, never hate or anger. If he strikes due to negativity, his cause is no longer just. Rather, he has become the antithesis to the Warrior, and no longer treads the true Warrior's Path.
The Warrior must harness his emotions. This is not to say that he must feel no emotion. On the contrary, he feels more deeply than most. He must, however, not allow his emotions to dictate his actions. His emotions should remain private, because in being demonstrative with emotional reactions, he allows others leverage to use against him.
The Warrior must acknowledge his basest desires, admitting to himself that, yes, even those who walk the noble path will, at one time or another, consider actions that are far removed from the person he strives to be. He must overcome his fear of these desires. Only by facing his fear of himself can the Warrior realize his true potential.
