Freedom From Bitterness Pt. 3

Bitterness stands in direct opposition to the future we have with the Warrior’s Way. As warrior’s, we are called to live in impeccability in regards to the promise that one day we will stand before ourselves and the Spirit, complete and fully transformed. The Warrior’s Way points us toward a future where our own tonal work is complete - where bitterness has no place in our hearts.

One day, each of us will stand before the great Spirit. What will we say about the anger we’ve held onto, the fractured relationships we never tried to mend, or the forgiveness we refused to extend? It’s a sobering thought. We’ve struggled to recap in this here and now - how will we explain our unwillingness to love and reconcile on earth? Our future within eternity and the second and third attentions should motivate us to pursue peace and wholeness within, right now.

How do we start living this way? It begins with a visualization of the moments of bitterness, making a list of all the bitter moments and then recapping them. We recognize that bitterness is completely out of line with our identity as followers of the Warrior’s Way. It’s not enough to recognize bitterness; we must eliminate it. The great Spirit gives us a roadmap for this transformation: letting go of bitterness through impeccable recapitulation and then embracing controlled folly. 

Kindness and a light heartedness are a couple of the clearest indicators that bitterness has been rooted out. It’s impossible to act kindly toward someone when our heart is still hardened against them.

Next, we are called to be tenderhearted through controlled folly. This means that we genuinely care about others, even those who have wronged us. Tenderheartedness replaces the hardness that bitterness brings, allowing us to understand others. It acknowledges that everyone should be treated light-hearted through controlled folly. Even those who have hurt us deeply. Then, we can extend compassion instead of resentment, once we are ‘clean.’

Finally, forgiveness is the ultimate test of a bitterness-free life. True forgiveness means letting go of the desire for retribution, releasing the debt owed to us. It’s a willingness to wipe the slate clean. Ask yourself: Is there someone I’ve struggled to forgive, someone I’ve refused to show kindness or compassion toward? Could that be the bitterness I need to address?

Take a step toward the freedom that aligns with your future in the Warrior’s Way. Think of the relationships where bitterness has lingered, where forgiveness has been withheld. Choose to release that anger through recapitulation to extend kindness and to be tenderhearted. As we grow in this, we prepare our path with heart for the day when we will see fellow warrior’s in the third attention, face-to-face, knowing that we’ve lived an impeccable life.

Warrior of Lite

Freedom From Bitterness Pt. 2

A life transformed by the Warrior’s Way is a life that leaves bitterness behind. Following impeccable living means more than adopting new habits; it means embracing a new identity, a new self. This transformation is not something we achieve on our own - it is the work of the Spirit through the new birth, the new you. When we accept and live the Warrior’s Way, we become new creations, not by birthright but through spiritual renewal and hard work. Our old self, with its anger and resentment, is recapitulated and eliminated, and we take on a nature shaped by living the Warrior’s Way through an impeccable lifestyle.

This change isn't superficial. It goes deep, altering our desires and our very nature. As new creations, bitterness no longer fits within the life we now live. It contradicts the new self that impeccability has formed in us. Living as we once did - holding onto grudges, nurturing old hurts - becomes impossible. The Spirit within us, coupled with recapping, pulls us toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and grace. Our transformed nature makes it ‘supernaturally natural’ to align with the Warrior’s Way, including destroying bitterness.

Our new life is also characterized by a new lease on life. The command of the Warrior to destroy bitterness isn't merely a suggestion - it's a call to live consistently with the new life we’ve earned, to live under the impeccability of the Warrior’s Way. The great Spirit now dwells in us, guiding us, comforting us, and leading us away from the things that grieve the Spirit. Bitterness and unforgiveness do more than damage our own hearts - they grieve the Spirit within us. When we hold onto resentment, we resist gentle promptings and disrupt our fellowship with the Spirit.

This sensitivity to the Spirit transforms how we approach every aspect of life. We begin to care deeply about what pleases us, and the Spirit, and what doesn’t. Our words, actions, and thoughts come under Spirit’s guidance, and we desire to reflect the heart of the Warrior. When we let go of bitterness, we make space for joy and peace. We can sense the second attentions presence, even in life’s challenges.

So, does what pleases or grieves the Spirit matter to you? Take a moment to examine your path with heart. Have you been holding onto bitterness or unforgiveness? Recognize that these attitudes stand in the way of the life the Warrior’s Way intends for you. Release them and invite the Spirit to fill you with peace. Then, embrace the freedom that comes from living in step with the Spirit, sensitive to its guidance as it renews your heart and mind. Let's get to work!

Warrior of Lite

Why are You so Mad? Pt. 4

Have you ever had revenge conversations going on in your mind? Do you go back to discussions and ‘rewrite’ the scene according to what you should have said instead of what you did say? That is an unsettled moment. 

When we do not deal with anger and when we carry it into the following day, we are giving the ego and self-importance a foothold, an opportunity to make things worse. Self-importance gets a hold of us when we do not deal with anger as soon as possible.

When we give ego an opportunity, it can expand small things and make them big. Remember that ego is the father of lies, and can manipulate, steal, kill, and destroy. When we choose to carry our anger into the following day, we allow ego and self-importance to hurt others, and ourselves. 

What is the impeccable advice on the matter? First, daily, make it right! Write down the who, what when, where and why, of your anger, then…guess what? Recapitulate!! Do not let the day end while you are still angry. Get it over as soon as possible. Small bricks build big walls. It separates us from our energy bodies and others. Secondly, choose to forgive. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another and forgiving each other. As my aikido sensei says, “Just. Let. Go.”

Thought of the Day: Choose to forgive daily! Recapitulate these ‘angers’ daily!  

Warrior of Lite

The Key to Real Wisdom

Would you ever build a house without blueprints? Or assemble an airplane without instructions? Or conduct open-heart surgery without training?

Hopefully your answer is “no.”

If we want to know how something works, we should look to the expert for insight. In a similar way, if we want to know how the world works, we should look to the great Spirit.

The Spirit made the world and everything in it. It knows how life works best.

But too often, we look to ourselves or even to others to tell us who we are, what to think, and to explain to us how life works. The good news is:

Wisdom doesn’t begin with us - the created.

Wisdom begins with the Spirit - the Creator.

Are you interested in real wisdom? Genuine insight? True understanding? Look to the great Spirit, study the Warrior’s Way. Examine and walk the Warrior’s path closely and then find what you’re searching for with an impeccable attitude. 

Real wisdom starts with a Spirit-centered foundation. Everything else is built on that rock.

But as we do that, we must first honestly ask ourselves some hard questions: Do I want to learn from the Spirit and the Warrior’s Way, or would I rather do my own thing? Do I want impeccable wisdom, or would I rather follow my own misguided beliefs?

So, right now, be real with yourself: Are you willing to surrender your way of thinking and genuinely look to the Spirit and the impeccable Warrior’s Way, or would you rather just do your own thing? If you feel a wall of pride going up within you, ask the Spirit to help you knock it down. Brick by brick, it can reestablish your foundation.

Warrior of Lite

Power of Words Pt. 6

We have reached Day 6 and I want to be 100% transparent with you: taming the tongue with our own strength is absolutely possible. Although I have tried making promises like "I will never get angry again" or "I will never complain again," I often end up failing. Why?

Because I didn’t use the correct tools in my warrior’s toolbox. I just tried. This is why I love the honesty of being impeccable and the Warrior’s Way. Use your Will to direct Intent and truly focus. If you are impeccable in your ACTIONS regarding speaking, not just your thoughts, you will succeed. 

Recognizing our weakness is not a failure; it is the place where Intent and the Spirit begins to operate. We need the Spirit to be that "guard" at the door of our lips when we are stressed at work, when we argue at home, or when we are tempted to judge. The victory over an uncontrolled tongue is always won first with focused Intent and living the Warrior’s Way.

Reflect: In what areas of your life (work, family, traffic, social media) do you desperately need the great Spirit to put "a guard" over your mouth today?

Meditate: I acknowledge that I can tame my tongue on my own. Set a guard with focused Intent and awareness, great Spirit, over my mouth, and keep watch over the door of my lips today and always.

Warrior of Lite

Power of Words Pt. 5

Today we are going to touch on a topic that is very difficult for all of us: forgiveness. I know how hard it is when someone has hurt you deeply. The offense buries itself in the heart and, as we saw on Day 2, begins to come out through our mouths in the form of criticism, passive-aggressive remarks, or a cold, cutting silence.

However, I tell you from experience that forgiveness is one of the most healing words a warrior can pronounce. By forgiving, you are not justifying what they did to you; you are using your tongue to release that person from a debt and, most importantly, you are freeing yourself from the poison of resentment.

Forgiveness is not based on whether the other person, or ourselves. deserves it. It is based on following the Warrior’s Way, being impeccable and those who looked at us in our worst condition and chose to forgive us. 

Today I want to challenge you to use your voice to break chains. Don't let pride, ego and self-importance steal your peace.

Reflect: Is there someone you need to say "I forgive you" to? What is stopping you from letting go of that offense today?

Meditate: I confess that it hurts to let go of the offense. Help me remember the immense forgiveness the Spirit has given me, and give me the courage to use my mouth to forgive and release others.

Warrior of Lite

Power of Words Pt. 4

So far, we have talked a lot about the danger of speaking without thinking, but today I want to change the focus. I want to encourage you with the most beautiful purpose your voice has: to build up. Let us "encourage one another and build one another up."

To edify means to build. You and I have the privilege of being architects in the lives of others. In a world where it is so easy to tear down with criticism, mockery, and negativity, let us be builders of impeccable speech, action and the Warrior's Way.

Think about the power you have today. You can use your voice to remind your spouse how much you value them. You can use your words to tell your children that you believe in them and that the Spirit has a purpose for their lives. You can send a message to that friend who is going through a dark time and be the light they need. Don't hold back your good words; use them to lift someone up today.

Reflect: Who in your circle desperately needs to hear a word of encouragement today? What are you going to say to them?

Meditate: I want to be a builder, not a destroyer with my words. Put in my mind and in my mouth the exact words to lift the spirits of those around me today.

Warrior of Lite

Power of Words Pt. 2

Sometimes we think our problem is simply that we "have no filter" or that we speak too quickly. I confess that for a long time, I tried to fix this by biting my tongue, counting to ten, and suppressing what I wanted to say. Yet, I needed to get to the heart of the issue; if the words are deep within, the mouth will speak.

Think of it this way: if you squeeze a lemon, you won't get orange juice; what comes out is what’s inside. In the same way, when life squeezes you through stress, exhaustion, or frustration, what comes out of your mouth is exactly what you have stored in your heart.

Your words are just a thermometer of your internal state. If there is hidden envy, bitterness, or anger, it will eventually come out as sarcasm, gossip, or criticism. To change what you say, you must first allow impeccable thoughts and actions, deep down, to change what you feel. The transformation of your vocabulary doesn't begin with a dictionary; it begins with impeccable surgery. Today, let's ask the Warrior’s Way to examine what truly abounds within us.

Reflect: Be honest with yourself: when you are under pressure, what hidden attitudes or feelings come to light through your words?

Meditate: Today I surrender my heart to the Warrior’s Way without reservation. I will use impeccable thoughts and actions to cleanse it of all bitterness, pride, and resentment. Fill me with the great Spirit so that my mouth can only reflect impeccable words. 

Warrior of Lite

Power of Words Pt. 1

Hello! I want to begin by asking you a very honest question: Have you ever said something in a moment of anger that you wished you could take back? I have. Many times, I’ve let words fly without thinking about the damage they would cause.

Don Juan said that words have power. This isn't exaggerated; it's a spiritually energetic reality. Every time you and I open our mouths, we are planting seeds. You are not just someone who "speaks their mind" or "is brutally honest"; you are a carrier of life or a carrier of death.

Your words can be the breath of fresh air that lifts your friends, peers or spouse out of a dark moment, or the sword that finally breaks your children's self-esteem. Today, I want to invite you to become aware of this power. From this moment on, I challenge you not to see your words as mere air, but as tools for impeccable building of the Warrior’s Way.

Reflect: Think about the conversations you’ve had in the last 24 hours: Did your words bring more life or more death to those who listened to you?

Meditate: Think of the times I have used my mouth to destroy. Help me to understand the true weight of my words. Starting today, let me be aware of the immense power words transmit, and may I always choose to speak positively. 

Warrior of Lite

Feeling Overwhelmed and the Warrior's Way Pt. 3

When you’ve been overwhelmed, it’s easy to feel like you need to catch up. To make big changes quickly. To prove to yourself that you’re doing better and won’t end up back where you started.

But that kind of pressure often keeps you stuck.

Because when everything feels urgent and important at the same time, it becomes hard to begin at all. 

The weight of “doing it right” can actually keep you from taking any step forward.

What if, instead, you chose one small step?

Not everything. Not all at once. Just one.

Maybe it’s getting out of bed and starting your day slowly. Remembering and writing down your Dreaming from the previous night. Meditating for ten minutes. Sitting still for a few minutes of quiet.

Simply pausing long enough to remember that the Spirit is with you.

Small doesn’t mean insignificant.

Small steps are often how big change begins. They create movement without pressure. They build trust that things can be okay again. They remind you that you are not stuck - you are moving forward, even if it’s slowly.

The Spirit is not asking you to have everything figured out. It’s inviting you to walk the Warrior’s path - one step at a time.

Meditation: Help me release pressure and take one small step with the Spirit today. Guide me into the good plans the Warrior’s path has for me.

What is one small, impeccably - filled step you can take today?

Warrior of Lite

Feeling Overwhelmed and the Warrior's Way Pt. 1

Does everything feel like too much right now?

Maybe your thoughts seem louder than usual. Your body is tense, like it can’t quite settle. Even small decisions are heavier than they should be, and you find yourself wondering why something that used to feel manageable now feels so hard.

Maybe you’ve told yourself...I just need to get it together.

Other people are handling more than this.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

But what if we paused before trying to fix anything and got curious instead?

Because there’s always a reason behind what we’re experiencing. Sometimes overwhelm comes from carrying too much for too long. Sometimes it comes from trying to hold things that were never ours to carry. And sometimes it’s simply our mind and body asking for care in a world that rarely slows down.

None of that makes you weak. It makes you human.

And more than that - it’s exactly the place where the Warrior’s Way meets you.

The Warrior’s Way isn’t waiting for you to be perfect before you embark on it. It’s already near. Steady. Present. Unhurried.

You don’t have to solve everything today. You don’t have to untangle every thought or fix every situation.

Right here, you can simply begin with one moment of stopping the internal dialogue (mind chatter), one deep breath, one simple act of impeccability.

Peace doesn’t always come by changing everything around you. Sometimes it begins by meeting impeccability and joining the Warrior's Path right where you are.

Let’s meditate: Everything feels like too much right now. Help me slow down and remember that the Warrior’s Way is here with me and will take care of me as long as I behave impeccably. 

Think of another time in your life when you felt overwhelmed. What helped you get through it?

Warrior of Lite

Relationships and the Warrior's Way Pt. 5

Without love, we cope under conditions that the great Spirit never intended. Couples become roommates, or worse. Warm romantic feelings come after true love is put into action. When my own marriage was in trouble, each day I took a different angle about love and chose to live it out practically toward my wife.

Our relationship took a sharp turn. It took time, but when one person loves another with unbending intent, it’s nearly impossible for that other person to remain unchanged. We must stop fighting our husbands and wives and start fighting the real enemy, apathy. It’s a lazy indifference. It wants us to nag, ignore, bristle, and withdraw. We fight against that by doing the exact opposite. When we show unconditional love to our husbands and wives, we disarm the forces of apathy hellbent on destroying our marriages.

The Warrior’s Way is not empty dialogue; it’s an active instruction manual for our everyday lives. Here’s how we can apply it regarding demonstrations of love in our marriages: Take out the trash, in love. Compliment her dress, in love. Give him a kiss, in love. Call her on your lunch break, in love. Tell him you appreciate his hard work, in love. Approach your financial problem, in love. Invite her into the bedroom, make him his favorite meal, clean up another mess, settle the kids’ arguing, in love. Do everything from a place of love, being filled by the great Spirit, whether or not your spouse does the same.

Love is a holy equalizer, removing the record of wrongs from our memories. You and I both have committed a multitude of wrongs ourselves. We can keep track, or we can keep our marriages intact. 

Acts of love create a breeding ground for feelings to germinate. Any reasonable spouse will respond to being loved well. Loving your husband breaks down his defenses. Loving your wife softens her spirit. Impeccable marital love begins with obedience and ends with blessing upon blessing.

If you love your spouse, you will actively look for ways to enhance his/her life on a daily basis. Like so many, I have been in a place of constant bickering and I’ve been in a place of cold indifference in my marriage. Neither of those conditions is worth settling for. Love is the answer and while it’s wonderful to be on the receiving end, be the great Spirit’s conduit, first and foremost. It’s doable if you’re available. Do you want to feel love in your marriage? Nothing will fill your heart more than mirroring the unconditional impeccable love toward your spouse. Love with everything you’ve got, and you’ll have everything to gain.

Let’s Meditate: Great Spirit, thank you for loving me. When I consider how much You have loved me, even at my worst, I am humbled. I believe that if I am impeccable, love will flourish in my marriage. Help us not to fly off the handle! Stop us from keeping a record of wrongs. Help us to always look for the best in one another!  It hurts when I don’t feel loved by my spouse, but I refuse to give in to hopelessness. I picture our relationship as one where love cannot be contained!

Warrior of Lite

Relationships and the Warrior's Way Pt. 2

It’s important to ask ourselves some poignant questions when conflicts over finances (or any other issue) arise: What is my goal in dealing with this issue?

Am I opening my heart to understanding my spouse’s point of view? Can I let go of my need in this situation for the betterment of my spouse/marriage? Am I being humble? Is what I am saying and thinking, impeccable? If we don’t come to a place of agreement or understanding, am I willing to yield? Can I grace my spouse and give them what they don’t deserve, just as the Spirit does for me so often?

When peace rules our hearts, that is the moment to hash things out and set some specific plans in place. When emotions are high, few of us can become teachable or communicate in a way that has the other person’s best interest wholly in mind. Our emotions block us from thinking logically or responding gently and impeccably. 

Certain moments in our lives can be triggering moments. Are financial discussions one of your trigger moments? Do you cringe every time the topic of money comes up? A good idea is to decide with your spouse that you will talk about finances only when you have the budget right in front of you or only on the weekend when your schedules are more “relaxed”. Coming to these kinds of agreements with one another is a proactive way to avoid the reactive disagreements we all want to avoid.

The key is to be inclusive of one another’s ideas and feelings, working toward a reasonable and impeccable practice of stewardship. It sounds simple enough, but we forget that money is never more important than the people in our lives. But what if your spouse refuses to collaborate with you? The Spirit is more interested in our own transformation than it is in fixing our circumstances so that we don’t have to change. When your husband disregards your feelings about spending, commit to being mindful of his feelings. When your wife forgets to balance the checkbook, be diligent on your end. You can never go wrong by doing what is impeccable!

When anger fills our hearts, search within to guard us against the co-mingling of unrighteous anger. If our spouse resists change or carry on unwisely in financial decisions, respond with loving-kindness and discernment. When worry and discontent threaten to discourage us, be ready to offer peace and satisfaction. When everything and everyone seems unstable, remain impeccable and do your best. Put your trust in the warrior’s way, impeccability, to both refine you and meet your needs and you will find a security that is far more valuable than money.

Warrior of Lite