RATLINKS: MAY OF THE WARRIOR
Finding your inner samurai
¡Feliz uno de Mayo y solo quatro dias hasta Cinco De Mayo!
April showers are finally behind us bringing May flowers and everyone’s favorite calendar meme. Remember it’s not just what you say but how you say it.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED
Recently I felt stagnant, I couldn't pinpoint the reason until I came across a tweet that perfectly captured my feelings.
Feeling stuck sucks. Rather than have a pity party do something different and shift your mindset and renew your sense of purpose, overcome stagnation and achieve personal growth.
Spring is the perfect time to get unstuck, embrace novelty, and bring something tangible to life.
The Way Of The Warrior
The samurai were the revered warrior class of feudal Japan, known for their unwavering loyalty, strict code of ethics, and mastery of martial arts. Their influence and legacy continue to shape Japanese culture and identity to this day.
One typically became a samurai through birth, as samurai families passed down their warrior status through generations. Young boys born into samurai families began their training at an early age, learning the arts of archery, swordsmanship, and horseback riding. They also studied subjects such as history, literature, and calligraphy, as samurais were expected to be well-rounded individuals.
In some cases, individuals who were not born into samurai families could be adopted by one or granted samurai status by their lord. This usually happened if the individual displayed exceptional martial prowess or unwavering loyalty. No matter the origin, a samurai's journey was marked by rigorous training, discipline, and adherence to the samurai code.
Ninjas in contrast were covert agents skilled in espionage, sabotage, and assassination, primarily serving their ninja clans or as mercenaries. They practiced ninjutsu, which focused on stealth, deception, and unconventional warfare tactics. Unlike samurais, ninjas did not adhere to a specific code of conduct and prioritized mission success over personal honor.
Bushido: The Samurai Code
The samurai lived by a strict code of ethics known as Bushido, which literally translates to "the way of the warrior." This code emphasized virtues such as loyalty, honor, courage, wisdom, and benevolence. The samurai were expected to be completely devoted to their lord and willing to lay down their lives in service.
A samurai's honor was of the utmost importance, and any perceived slight or failure could lead to a loss of honor. In such cases, a samurai might choose to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide, to regain their honor and prevent shame from falling upon their family.
The Legacy of the Samurai
Although the samurai class was abolished during the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, their influence and legacy continue to be felt in Japanese society. The values of Bushido, such as honor, loyalty, and discipline, are deeply ingrained in Japanese culture and have influenced aspects of modern society, including business practices and education.
In popular culture, the image of the samurai has become a symbol of honor, strength, and wisdom. Films, literature, and other forms of media often depict samurais as stoic, disciplined warriors who embody the highest ideals of honor and loyalty. This romanticized depiction has captured the imagination of audiences around the world and inspired countless works of fiction.
The Modern Samurai
In the modern context, the principles of Bushido can be applied to various aspects of our lives, including education and personal development. Embracing the discipline, perseverance, and commitment to continuous learning exemplified by the samurai can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of the world around us. In this sense, we can all strive to become "modern samurais" by adhering to these values and principles.
One can also draw inspiration from the samurai's dedication to lifelong learning and mastery of their craft. By instilling these values one can cultivate a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility, and moral character.
By adopting the principles of Bushido, individuals can strive for excellence in their chosen field, while also contributing to the greater good of their community and society as a whole.
Unleashing Your Inner Samurai
To become a modern samurai and learn new skills, it is essential to be open to new experiences, challenge ourselves to step out of our comfort zones, and constantly seek opportunities for growth.
This can be achieved by:
setting ambitious goals
seeking mentorship from experts in our chosen fields
embracing failure as an opportunity to learn and improve
Moreover, we should strive to develop a well-rounded understanding of the world by not only focusing on our specific areas of expertise but also cultivating a broader knowledge of history, literature, art, and philosophy. This holistic approach to learning enables us to draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines and fosters creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ultimately, the journey to becoming a modern samurai is not a destination but a lifelong process of self-improvement and growth.
By adopting the principles of Bushido and applying them to our daily lives, we can forge our path towards personal and professional excellence, embodying the spirit of the samurai in the modern world.
The 10-Hour Project
A useful exercise to help you ease into this more concrete approach to skill development is the 10-hour project. The idea here is simple. Commit to spending the first hour of your workday on an optional project for two work weeks. The result is 10 total hours that, given their location at the very beginning of the workday, are easy to protect.
Find a modest project that can reasonably fit into this period: something with a clear success criteria, and that will also require you to learn something new or improve a useful skill to complete.
For someone in marketing, for example, this might be setting up a sample WordPress site that integrates an exciting new analytic tools, and then generating a short report on its features and how to use it.
This small amount of time, of course, won’t by itself transform your career, but it will ease you into the types of habits that can do this in the long run.
— Cal Newport
LEAD A HORSE TO WATER
AI can be a helpful companion on this journey. To start login to your preferred AI service like Google's Bard or ChatGPT and try the below prompts or make your own.
"I want to learn about [insert topic]. Identify and share the most important 20% of learnings from this topic that will help me understand 80% of it."
"I want to learn / get better at [insert desired skill]. I am a complete beginner. Create a 30 day learning plan that will help a beginner like me learn and improve this skill."
"Your role is that of a problem solver. Give me a step-by-step guide to solving [insert your problem]."
"I am currently learning about [insert topic]. Convert the key lessons from this topic into engaging stories and metaphors to aid my memorization."
"I am currently learning about [insert topic]. Ask me a series of questions that will test my knowledge. Identify knowledge gaps in my answers and give me better answers to fill those gaps." (Credit: Zain Kahn)
What is the Samurai code and how can I write an article about applying it to my life?
You made it all the way to the bottom, you are good at reading, but do you how to poop like a Samurai?