Warriors. How are you feeling this week? What are the significant battles you seem to face on a daily/weekly basis?
Often, I am defined by one aspect. Since the birth of my son, it's been motherhood. Mark, as a new small business owner, spends a lot of time with that business owner hat, having entire days consumed by his desire to succeed. We talk about the warrior's will as though these individuals are mentally indestructible and the ultimate protector.
So what goes into willpower, then?
If there's one thing I hope you all have learned in this journey, it's that mental discipline is not always about willing something away. When we use willpower for The Warrior's Will brand name, it isn't a beacon of unending willpower. It's understanding that strengthening the mind, body, and spirit includes knowing when it's time for war but always wanting peace. Learning the DBT skill sets from this blog is a great way to decipher the appropriate action based on the circumstances.
A strong mind recognizes when to accept and process emotions radically and when to stand firm and face the dragon. The only way a warrior has the strength to face a battle is because they have learned to follow through on training. After all, a warrior who has just been conscripted would die if they tried to fight the dragon on day one. You have to recognize which battles you are ready to face. Mark wrote a great blog post about his own demons here.
Warriors are all about action. They take the desires and plans of the person in charge and make sure they are realized. They like doing things, fixing them, and following through until it's done. This is where the training for self-discipline and self-control comes in. It doesn't matter how tired Mark is (self-care and sleep are essential, too, at times!). He knows he needs to train and exercise.
Like the warriors of legend, Mark knows he can accomplish incredible things if he can master his mind.
The only way a warrior learns to not get distracted by feelings and challenges is by constantly refining skill sets and emotional regulation. When shit hits the fan, warriors act quickly and with confidence. This is their sweet spot and the moment they spend so much time mastering. They know a bloody battle is only sometimes the first response.
A great example of this is the legend of Buddha and Mara, which shows that Buddha only uses his mind to defeat Mara. There isn't a single physical moment in the entire "battle."
Another notable aspect of the warrior's will is loyalty. They fight for something bigger than themselves. Mark's primary intention for this blog and his company is to guide others and support them by sharing his own journey. He loves and cares for the community around him.
Caring for others means facing hardships, standing firmly with ostracized community members, and making the right decisions, even if they are unpopular among others.
Have you heard the saying, "Live each day as though it's your last?"
This embodies a warrior. They give everything they have and live life to the fullest. They go into battle expecting injury but not being afraid of it.
The last thing I wanted to mention was humility. A warrior understands that extensive training and skill sets have the potential to become bad. There is this quote from Harvey Dent once he becomes Two-Face (Batman villain for any noncomic people out there) and reflecting on his journey. It goes:
You either die a hero or live long enough to watch yourself become a villain.
I love it. It doesn't have to be true, but the best defense is being aware of one's potential to be corrupt in life. Even a burning desire to help others can turn into an extreme resolve that causes more harm than good. Power can be addictive, and so can the rush of a heated battle.
What are some areas you'd like to train better in? Comment below!
