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Daily Reflection 2.4.21
Feb. 4th, 2021 09:17 am Today we'll look at the third of Sun Tzu's five essentials for victory.
This is a simple one-- deceptively simple, maybe. But it recalls the idea that we've been pushing over and over and over again in this series of posts: Before any undertaking, you must be clear on your goal.
Whether you want to become the mayor of your town, write a novel, or free your mind from the grip of addictions and demons, if you know beforehand what you want to achieve, you will know what you need to do. Or, to say it another way, you will know what victory conditions will look like. You also need to be clear to yourself why you want to undertake this, and that it really is in alignment with your real desires and your real values-- and the will of your gods. That will allow you to apply all of the resources of your own soul-- all the ranks of your internal army-- toward achieving your goal.
Another way to illustrate what this looks like is to consider the opposite. Have you ever known someone who was always talking about what they would do "if they had the time"? Have you ever noticed that the same someone spent a very great deal of time looking at their phone, checking social media, or watching television? That is someone's whose inner army is divided against itself.
Focus on what you want to achieve-- and before you do, make sure that you really do want to achieve it!
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
This is a simple one-- deceptively simple, maybe. But it recalls the idea that we've been pushing over and over and over again in this series of posts: Before any undertaking, you must be clear on your goal.
Whether you want to become the mayor of your town, write a novel, or free your mind from the grip of addictions and demons, if you know beforehand what you want to achieve, you will know what you need to do. Or, to say it another way, you will know what victory conditions will look like. You also need to be clear to yourself why you want to undertake this, and that it really is in alignment with your real desires and your real values-- and the will of your gods. That will allow you to apply all of the resources of your own soul-- all the ranks of your internal army-- toward achieving your goal.
Another way to illustrate what this looks like is to consider the opposite. Have you ever known someone who was always talking about what they would do "if they had the time"? Have you ever noticed that the same someone spent a very great deal of time looking at their phone, checking social media, or watching television? That is someone's whose inner army is divided against itself.
Focus on what you want to achieve-- and before you do, make sure that you really do want to achieve it!
