As I've gotten older and delved deeper into philosophy, different people's perception of life, my own understanding of what it means to be human, and the objectives surrounding our existence, I'm starting to find that through the balancing of imbalance, by finding comfort in both Yin and Yang, sitting on both sides of the fence, or at least trying to traverse the fence line as much as possible, I am starting to believe more and more in aspiring to have the body of a warrior and the mind of a monk.

Personally, I need exercise or physical excursion regularly, or I become flustered, lethargic, can become quite low, and just overall feel off. I think it's increasingly important to stay active and that a healthy body fuels a healthy mind. Although, through the pursuit of sharpening our bodies into weapons, I think it can also help sharpen our minds.

Through Jiu Jitsu and the pursuit of self-improvement, I have felt my confidence improve and my physique has sharpened somewhat, but it's the slowing of my mind that has had the most profound impact for me. During a roll, as someone is trying to submit me, there is a strange sense of peace and calmness within my mind, a feeling of pure freedom, which is a wonderful feeling and a feeling that continues to drive me towards self-improvement. One thing I observe about the majority of the black belts that I roll with or watch train is that they all have incredible patience, and through their movement during battle, they remain calm and composed at all times.

Pursuing any endeavour in life is a positive contributing factor in the search for happiness. However, as predatory and territorial animals, is the pursuit of self improvement through preparation for war, actually an internal mechanism for settling the mind for true peace? Is our on instinctual aspirations as animals a hidden pathway towards pure universal truth and happiness?

Sometimes when I’m rolling on the mats, in the midst of battle I feel a strange sense of peace. A feeling of pure bliss and freedom. In that moment I feel an Un withering feeling of happiness.

Happiness is subjective depending on who we are, however, when we feel moments in our lives that create these feelings of joy, happiness, euphoria, we should note them, embrace them, and utilise them, for they may be directional messages that the universe is sending us to help us head towards meaning, purpose, and fulfilment in life.

Thanks,

Dean