Level 4.24 - Suffering

Level your Life  - [The Level of Suffering] [4.24]

Suffering

The physical life is difficult , it can be excruciatingly uncomfortable,phsyically,emotionally and spiritually. But we know that if you wish to improve, you need to suffer or become uncomfortable.
For example; by their very nature, sports and fitness , while they bring joy and satisfaction, evoke suffering in all of us: we sometimes have feelings of frustration,fear,grief,sadness,regret,anger,anxiety or despair. This is exactly like life as a whole but more intense and occuring over a shorter duration.
Whenever you seek advancement and higher levels of performance in any aspect of life, you experience some elements of suffering. But when you leave your comfort zone and become uncomfortable, notice how expansive your potential truly is.

Buddhist thought tells us that we must accept suffering as a way of life; 
this is the first of Four Noble Truths in Zen.

All greatness,awareness and acute sensitivity are the natural outcomes of adversity and suffering.
The warrior knows that in suffering - experiencing painful feelings or being uncomfortable - you begin to see the more meaningful side of life. There is wisdom in the existential experience of suffering. Deep appreciation is often residual benefit. When you can take this stance , you grwo, learn, blossom and connect with your warrior within.



Declaration: I welcome my physicial journey with all its suffering and pain and as a result I reach the far boundaries of my full human potential.

Reflection: With regard to my physical life, what kinds of suffering and sacrifice could contribute to my overall improvement and growth ? What stops me from embracing the suffering ?

[paraphrased and inspired by Spirit of the Dancing Warrior]

Level 4.15 - Integrity

Level your Life- [The Level of Integrity] [4.15]

Integrity

"Hold your ethics and principles and do not compromise what you believe to be right. Acting with integrity is the key. " I Ching 29

How far you go in athletics,work and life is directly influenced by the scope of your integrity.The Chinese symbols for integrity illustrate wholeness of character and a commitment to stand up for personal principles - never for a moment considering compromising what you believe to be right.

"Do the right thing" , act with integrity in all things. For us, integrity is the act of narrowing the existential gap between what you say or feel and what you do.

Physicial activity presents you with continual opportunities to demonstrate your integrity. You may say you train, hard yet when others are not looking, you back off the intensity. You may say you´ll show up but don´t. You might claim you want to get in shape, yet indulge in counrproductive eating habits. There aremany ways this gap between what you say and do can manifest.

There is another way you can compromise your integrity that happens frequently in sports for example: not playing (or working) to your full potential. Integrity is the refusal to compromise your talents regardless of the score, the outcome, the differnece in levels of ability among competitors.

Do not give others permission to make you feel inferior,undeserving or less than you are.

This journey asks that you demonstrate integrity every chance you get and feel the power of being a true winner.

Declaration: I consistently look for openings where I can narrow the gap between who I am , what I say and what I do.

Reflection: How do I demonstrate a lack of integrity in my daily doing? What are some concrete things I can do to create more integrity in my life ?

What effect would this have on my performance ??

[paraphrased and inspired by Spirit of the Dancing Warrior]