“The difference between the courageous and the cowardly can be seen in everyday life.”
Some of you might be surprised to learn that those words were written almost 400 years ago.
In the 17th Century, a Confucian scholar and military scientist wrote a handbook after 500 years of military rule had already taken place in Japan. Taira Shigesuke wrote Bushido Shoshinshu, or Bushido for Beginners, to provide instruction for warriors.
The Tokugawa regime shut Japan off from the outside world. As a result, the tightly organized regime was able to maintain its own system of Samurai rule for over 250 years until 1867. But with the end of chronic warfare and the abundance of prosperity in the Tokugawa era, the Samurai elders perceived a weakening of the warrior spirit. They could sense a change in their people.
Today one could argue that we humans live in a world of abundant prosperity. Most of us likely lack the warrior spirit of our ancestors. Whether we like it or not, we are all decendants of warriors and survivors.
We would be wise to study history. We would be wise to more often use words like loyalty, duty, and valor.
When describing The Valiant, Shigesuke writes:
“On the warrior’s path, only three things are considered essential: loyalty, duty, and valor….
Warriors who combine these three virtues of loyalty, duty, and valor in one person are considered knights of the highest order…
Knights of the highest order are rare, even in a group of a hundred or a thousand warriors.”
Being courageous is a mentality. It is a mentality that is reflected in how you act, how you treat yourself, how you treat others, how you react to others.
Being a coward is almost the same today as it was in Japan during the 17th Century.
“As for the cowardly, they merely feign respect for employers and parents superficially, without really caring for them. They do not avoid things forbidden by employers or disliked by parents; they even frequent places they should not go; and do things they should not do.”
It can be cowardly to selfishly put yourself first. As you get older, your world around you changes. Life is more than just being about you. It is more about serving others instead of only yourself. But a coward is always thinking about themselves first.
“Acting as they please, they habitually nap mornings and afternoons.”
It is cowardly to not prepare. It is more fun to talk about the preparation. It is easier for a coward to talk about their work instead of doing their work. It is easier for a coward to talk about their competition than to prepare for their competition.
“They hate literary studies, and even if they practice martial arts they do not pursue any of them seriously…
They just talk boastfully about skills they cannot really perform.”
Cowardly actions start with a cowardly mind.
“Wearing away yourself and your life like this is something that comes from a weak and immature mind unable to endure and tolerate things. This generally reflects the mentality of a cowardly knight.”
How can we avoid being cowards?
Learn. Always.
Listen. Always.
Endure. Always.
Tolerate. Always.
Not everything warrants your reaction, your response, or your rage.
Be calm. Especially in the chaos. Especially in tense, high stakes environments.
Admit mistakes. Share your fears. Simply communicate with those who are important to you.
Train hard. Your mind, body, and spirit require your undivided attention.
How can you endure an 18-hour travel day of connecting or delayed flights without having done harder things in your life?
How can you tolerate a partner, client, or supplier verbally abuse you without feeling the need to react?
How can you skillfully manage a conflict of opinions if you have never engaged in any kind of conflict in the past?
How can you learn a new skill if you are always self absorbed in your comfort and prosperity?
“the courageous and the cowardly can certainly be distinguished in everyday life.”
Everyday life matters a lot.
Avoid cowards at all costs.
What are you doing to live a courageous life?
#023
The Real Con