The Warrior's Path

Hi, and thanks for reading my message board entitled: The Warrior's Path! As a long-time martial arts and meditation practitioner, I've come to think of health, relationships, business, martial arts, and any other life endeavor worth dedication as wholistic adventures, involving a bigger picture approach mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. With every adventure, I believe we must act from Purpose--that is, from our authentic selves and our purest intentions therein, in line with our honest integrity and sense of connection to all other things. This, I believe, is the way of the Peaceful Warrior. Below, you'll find some perspectives I've developed based on my own trials, errors, and accomplishments, whether it be in the ring, in relationships, creating art, or building companies. These notes are posted each week on this page, in the Epoch Times Newspaper, and throughout my dojo in West LA for my students to read.

I believe that true success requires numerous mistakes and failures, and in this sense, as long as we press onward and learn from our experiences, there IS NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE! Rather, every so called "obstacle" is actually an opportunity for learning and growth. The path of progress, no matter what that entails for each of us individually, is therefor success itself. Atop a plethora of important keys to happiness and success, that path -- the Warrior's Path -- in my estimation is most importantly fueled by inspiration and trust--in yourself and in the universe, which some might call faith. I hope you enjoy my notes and can perhaps take something of use from them!

The Bigger Picture

So you’ve had a “bad” day. A rough week. A hard year. And yeah, yeah, you know that this too shall pass, but at the moment, your situation seems bleak and almost impossible to overcome. We’ve all been here; human beings all share these troubling experiences, whether spoken of or not. Remember, you’re not alone, and many of us can help if asked. But most importantly, those of us who choose to reflect on the Bigger Picture make it through the dark valleys with our heads still high, with our eyes focused forward, and with our guts intact.

 

How do you view your life? By the day, the week, the month? If you’ve had turmoil this week, can you not see the whole month and say, “Overall, I’m up.” If this month has proven difficult, can you not look at the rest of the year—all the lessons you’ve learned, the tests you’ve surmounted, the progresses you’ve made—and proclaim, “All in all, this year, I’m looking good!” And if this year has been arduous, filled with worry or confusion, can you not quell the trepidation to some degree by veering at the expanse of your life to remind yourself: “I’m still here! I’ve known so many wonderful people, learned so many invaluable lessons, gone through such a wealth of amazing experiences… Overall, I’m proud.”

Take a moment during a day, a week, a month of hardship to contemplate, or perhaps even to write down all of your accomplishments—large or small—that comprise your bigger picture. All of the things for which you deserve a pat on the back, all of the stuff for which you should be applauded. Read over the list, then go ahead and give yourself that pat. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve survived. You’ve traversed ups and downs, highs and lows, and you’re still moving forward, still breathing, still fighting. You’re a wiser person, a better friend and family member, and you’re making healthier decisions for yourself every day. For this, you deserve a standing ovation. Look at the big picture and applaud yourself. And don’t worry, next month will be better; next year will be great. Today, you might feel down. But if you’re still kicking, moving, learning, growing—indeed, if you’ve made it this far in life, then trust me… You’re up!