My Warrior Life

How often as adults do we hear others rationalize or give excuses for really poor choices or behaviors in life?  Sadly, this has become a new pastime for people.  Incredibly, I have heard the most baneful actions (deceit, adultery) by others, be somehow attempted to be rationalized.  When you have made mistakes, own up to them and do not make yourself look worse by somehow attempting to place an excuse or somehow say that you are not wrong in any way.  Have the decency to admit wrongdoing.  You are not denigrating yourself, rather you are showing everyone you can do the right thing.

Living with honor is the true way of the warrior and has been held in high regard since the bedrock of time.  In our hurry up world where we somehow feel that we should have everything we want, it is easy to make a mockery of our honor.  Do not allow yourself to go down this road!  This is one area that you can control.  You may not be able to control everything in life.  Some human urges are sometimes impossible to control.  The error is not in falling victim to the urge, but personal growth and development is enhanced when we own up to things.

Accountability depends on trust. To hold ourselves  to be accountable to self  is to trust your judgment and to believe in the truths and values that we are. It also helps if we can sense that we have our best interests at heart.  Accountability is directly related to the principle of submission. Every person must struggle with the natural tendency toward rebellion.  Accountability involves allowing yourself the permission to struggle and fail sometimes.  Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go out there in live like a warrior!  Personal growth training occurs during these times of failure.  Use these times not for shame but for some self empowerment.  You are greater than any failure in life.

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What does it mean to have the heart of a champion?  Many times we have experienced accomplishing great things and have those euphoric feelings that we can accomplish anything.  Very often though, we can get signals that our work is finished and we can then take a rest.  The heart of a champion is similar to the human heart in one critical area though.  The heart never stops.  If your heart stopped beating you would quickly perish.  You need to think in the same terms if you are performing your job, dealing with your family, or any undertaking you have in life.  Never rest on your achievements.  What you accomplish in life is great, but keep the memories as just what they are: memories.

I would like to note a few champions who exemplify this concept of heart of a champion.

• Muhammad Ali called himself the greatest of all time and competed this way. He always believed in himself and taught others to as well.

• Pete Rose, no matter what opinion you have of him in his gambling misfortune, he was the picture never giving up, hence the name he had: Charlie Hustle.
• Tiger Woods, he is probably the best golfer ever, however, by his own account he never takes a day off from practicing his swing.
• Wayne Gretzky, the only player to have his number “99” retired by every NHL team was always at practice and missed games only on extreme circumstances.
• Bjorn Borg, legendary tennis player who even after dominating the tennis world would spend his spare time bouncing a tennis ball of his racquet.
• Lou Gehrig, the Ironman of the baseball world needs no further explanation. He is a fine example of the heart of a champion.

So what does this mean for us?  No I am not asking that we become the next Gretzky.  I just want to remind you that you have the same human heart at these individuals.  You are a champion, go out there and be a warrior.

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Many people I speak with have a certain pre-conceived image of the Samurai warrior.  Some recall the television series called Shogun by James Clavell.  Many recall the scene in which a warrior decapitates another for not bowing respectfully.  The Code of Bushido was the governing principles of these warriors.  Bushido means “way of the warrior”, and bloodthirsty is not one of the ways to describe them. Bushido puts emphasis on:

• Loyalty
• Self sacrifice
• Justice
• Sense of shame
• Refined manners
• Purity
• Modesty
• Frugality
• Martial spirit
• Honor and affection

The human race has evolved so much since the time of the Samurai (9th – 12th century).  The principles it espouses though is timeless.  We are lucky to have an example of living that made sense in ancient times and guided its people through many of the same ups and downs that we face today.  As a life coach, I try to instill the principles of the Bushido in the clients that I train.  Samurai never needed written pacts to be who they were, it was beneath their honor to do so.  We would be well served to have such honor ourselves.

Some of you may not recognize the young officer in the photo.  Well, not to burst your bubble, however, that young man was me over 20 years ago.  We should support our police who provide protection of us each day.  One of the great lessons I learned from that era of my life was the lawmen’s code of ethics and how to never give up in battle.  Below are some excerpts:

“As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.”

“I will survive any situation I get into because I am trained for it,” “I will never give up, I am prepared for any situation I fall into because I train for it as an police officer,” “I will never give up.”

As you read these words, please remember that our police are on duty to help us and they are the true warriors of life.  The passages above are in line with the code of ethics.

One of the more important warrior codes is that of valor.  When you think of the valor, I am sure images are conjured up most likely having to with patriotism and national pride.  These are important and this is meant in no way to down play those.  What I want to remind each of you is that valor must come from within.  We need to look inside ourselves and seek valor from personal level.  That is a cornerstone of what it takes to be a warrior at life.

Looking at this personal view of valor, ask yourself these questions.  Are you being brave and facing every obstacle?  Do you avoid making the brave decisions that have to be made?  Do you cower when things get tough?  Be honest with yourself.  A true warrior lives honestly and with integrity.  It is OK if you fail at times, but recognize and move forward making improvements along the way.  That is another warrior way, to make constant improvements.  Go out today and be a warrior of life.  Live with valor!

What makes one person greater than the other?  This question comes up because as humans we like to compare apples to oranges and many other external resources and accomplishments.  We then put these comparisons up as proof positive that this conclusion we have reached is based in fact.  What we fail to recognize is that these comparisons are truly egoic.  They are based upon external sources and how things appear to us through the lens of our own experience.

I am not against making these comparisons, however, we need to recognize that who we truly are is more.  We need to get in touch with our true selves and leave these comparisons behind.  We should know that we are GREAT each and every day.  As coaches, we are always reminding people that even when we have down days, that the greatness to move mountains lies deep withing ourselves.  Let that greatness out!  Go out and be great today.  Make it a day that truly brings out your best.  Reach for the next rung in the ladder going up.  That is what it takes to be a warrior of life.  Go out today and be GREAT!

We all know this word and what it implies.  It is also one of the seven principles of the Code of Bushido and it is what the samurai warriors lived by.  It is also a cornerstone of what it takes to be a warrior of life.  Adopting this trait for our own lives helps to be authentic with ourselves and with those that are around us.  Are we always perfect?  Of course not, but that is why we are human and continually strive each and every day to get better.  Remember “kaizen” which says to continually improve.

Often times people imply that this word only speaks to us inasmuch as we should always “speak” the truth.  The term is quite broad in its application, therefore, if we remain silent and not speak up for fear that the truth will somehow be upsetting, are we not dishonest now?  I would opine that we indeed need to not only be honest in what we speak, but also honest in that if we know or have information, this principle calls us to speak up and not remain silent.  It is not always easy, and as always if you find yourself on the battlefield and know that you made an error, acknowledge it and move forward.  Do not mire yourself in self-loathing over it.  A warrior never stops moving forward and reaching for new heights.