Rereading some classics and some newer books today. ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by David Goggins has become one of my favorites alongside works by other authors such as M. Scott Peck (The Road Less Traveled). Quotes from these authors like “Life is difficult, once you accept this the rest is easier” – M. Scott Peck or “From the time you take your first breath, you become eligible to die” – David Goggins. At times these ideas might seem depressing, de-motivating, sad, or hard to accept. However, I usually find these truths to be encouraging and possibly even validating.
Heraclitus wrote “Out of every hundred men ten shouldn’t be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but one, one is a warrior and he will bring the others back.”
Cicero wrote, commenting on a letter written by Plato, “Not for us alone are we born; our country, our friends, have a share in us”. There is an inner peace that comes when we realize these truths. We see that others are traveling the same difficult path of their own. We are in this together but also individually. The common thread here is that we all are connected, living in the same world, experiencing difficulties, growing, and having the same potential. The difference between them is only individual choice, essentially our ‘Lens of Choice’. In the same way, we use different lenses in our frames to better see the road ahead we also have a lens through which we view our world. The lens of choice is shaped by our unique experiences, our childhood, our choices as adults, and everything in between. When we choose the more difficult path to push into an uncomfortable situation to become a better version of ourselves we grow. When we choose the easier path to stay where we are, live comfortably every day, and continue a mind-numbing existence a piece of our soul dies a little.
Every person regardless of health, wealth, state of mind or body has the potential to be a warrior. The difference between a warrior and a target is, quite simply, choice. The warrior will train their mind, body, and spirit to harden their defenses and sharpen their offenses. The target will stand in the same place choosing a daily repetitive comfortable existence while never challenging their own biases and beliefs. There is no shame in choosing to be a warrior nor is there shame in choosing to be a target. Our power rests in the reality that states our choices are our own. Lean in and LIVE IN to your power – what is your lens of choice today?
-Oak
My Resilient World 