I consider myself a warrior.

I’ve been through a lot of personal battles.  I’ve built a house, saved my child’s life, and faced fires.  I’ve been a martial artist for half my lifetime and my commitment and dedication to being a martial artist for so long gives me warrior status there.  I’ve learned to apply a strong belief in myself and a martial arts mindset to my life.  Through my beliefs and principles, I try to reach out and help others experience a good and positive life.

I’ve not always been that way.  There were times in the past that I was more of a worrier than a warrior.  I worried about how I looked and what I said.  I worried about what  might happen.  Some of my feelings had to do with lack of self-confidence and some had to do with fear.  No matter the reason, it was not until I had to face a few big obstacles did I learn the value of being a warrior instead of a worrier.  I’ve learned to minimize my worry. Thanks to my martial arts mindset and my martial art experiences, I’ve learned that when worry makes itself known, it is a battle only a true warrior can win.  You need to take out all the weaponry you have to fight it, put on some armor, and shield yourself.

Here are some of the differences between being a worrier and being a warrior:

• Being a worrier works against you while being a warrior builds you up
• Being a worrier squeezes all of the possible hope out of a situation but being a warrior brings goodness and truth and hope to light 
• A worrier looks too far ahead but a warrior lives in the moment to make it the best moment it can be
• A worrier feels stress and a heavy heart but a warrior exudes joy and inner peace

According to an on-line dictionary, someone who worries torments himself with, or suffers from, disturbing thoughts and is fretful. I know that worry manifests itself as negativity, too.  Being a worrier is detrimental to how you think, how you view others, and your happiness.  More than that, it’s a detriment to the world.

The world?

Well, yes.  If we bottled up all that worry and turned it into something positive instead we could actually make the world a better place.  Can you imagine a world without worry?  A place where everything seems okay?  All you need to do is focus on the here and now and contributing in a positive way.  No worry about crime, no worry about hatred, and no worry about war.  That world is the one in which I’d like to live.

How does your worry measure up?  Are you worried about things that are not worth worry?

A warrior is not concerned about what may or may not happen.  He lifts others up, puts others first, and is giving of himself.  A warrior sees the big picture.  He knows that he can step up and make a difference. The warrior spirit can be physical, like fighting for our country, saving someone from drowning, giving birth to a baby, or putting out a fire; or, it can be mental, like sharing difficult life experiences in order to help others, spreading a positive attitude, or being a compassionate listener.  Do you fit in any of these categories?

A warrior does not have to be a famous  karate champion or a ninja. He does not need to break boards or perform martial arts techniques on the top of a mountain.

He can be as every day a person as you and I. If you devote any part of yourself to another person, then you are a warrior.  Husband? Father? Wife? Mother?  Volunteer? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Sibling? Whatever your role, don’t discount it as not being heroic.  Parents are responsible for raising kids who will someday take over the world.  Spouses are responsible for showing the world what love really is.  Volunteers personify a great warrior commitment.  When you recognize the warrior within then you can leave some of your worry behind.

Look at what you do every day.  For me, maybe one thing I write or one thing I say about self-defense will save another person’s life.  Maybe it will stop a child from being bullied. Maybe a woman will leave an abusive relationship. If I worried about what to say or when to say it, I’d never have the chance to help anyone.

If you are in a battle, there’s no time to project. On September 11, 2001 ordinary people chose to be warriors.  There was no time to think or react.  They chipped in when and where they could not even knowing what was happening.  The human spirit took over.  Innocent lives were lost but heroic warriors, who moments before were just going about their business, emerged.  Ordinary people stepped up.  If ever ordinary people cast worry aside long enough to be warriors, it was on that very day.

Why Worry?

Worrying makes sense, doesn’t it?  It is a defense against facing fears or lack of control.  If you have no control over something, that is when worry sets in.  Worry allows you to hide behind a wall.  You can use worry as an excuse (I can’t focus because I’m worried).   You can make yourself sick with worry.  You can obsess or create havoc out of little things, when you worry.  You can worry about things big and small.  Little things like what you should wear to a family gathering, and big things, like, how you can face a medical challenge.   You may worry about getting places on time.  You may be worried that you will lose your job, break your leg, or forget someone’s name.  Worry is an illusive crystal ball through which you think you can predict the worst case scenario.  Like setting a negative energy in motion, worry can manifest in all parts of your life.

Worry doesn’t solve any life mystery.  It does not change the facts or circumstances.  It magnifies the issues and places burdens on others.  When you are worried, they are sad.  When you are worried, they feel helpless.  There is no way to get rid of worry completely, so weigh the importance of your worry.  How many pounds of worry do you think you have if you put it on the scale?  How much worry do you have every day?  How do you feel when you are worried?

When I was younger, I had a dreadful fear of flying in airplanes.  I was the white-knuckled passenger who exhaled a loud sigh and squeal upon landing. My worry caused me to have many questions.  Will this plane land safely?  Who is this pilot? Will this be my last moment on earth? That’s a little excessive I know, but I thought it!  I would grab the arm of the person sitting next to me out of fear when landing!  I finally recognized that I could not go through life worried about flying. I’m happy to say that after years of flying I finally decided to get over that worry. It had to do with letting go of fear and placing trust in others.  Now I just take a nap, look out the window or talk to my neighbor. When we land, I close my eyes and just wait.

You have heard stories of people who were in concentration camps, or  kidnapped or held  hostage.  They must have had a lot of worry, yet, they had to focus on the moment.  They were thankful to have just a minute more of life.  They prayed, but for what?  Strength.  Those who survived fought the most difficult worry battle of all.  Will I live to see another moment on this earth?  If they had let worry consume them, if they had projected too far ahead, I don’t believe they would have ever made it through.

I’ve seen worry rule people’s lives.  They are so caught up in what might happen.  Who cares what might happen? What about right now, today, this moment?  Just focus on where you are right now.  That’s what a warrior must do.  It is important to remember that good things can happen as quickly as bad ones.

A warrior is always learning.  A warrior does not place limits on himself.  A warrior believes. A warrior is optimistic.   A warrior is helpful.  A warrior never gives up.  A warrior accepts challenges with the spirit of a fighter.

You have a very interesting choice to make.  Do you want to live each moment to its fullest?  Do you want to be happy?  Do you want to feel a sense of accomplishment and reach your goals? Are you ready to make a decision?

Will you be a worrier or a warrior?

I know what I choose to be.

Andrea

 

 

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