On True Strength & the Path of the Warrior

This is an exploration of true power.

For weeks, I felt an overwhelming, persistent anger.
It took me a while to finally realize that I needed to focus on it — really focus — and see what is true.

Sometimes, all you can do is sit patiently and wait.
When the emotions or sensations are overwhelming and explosive, you still have that choice.

So, one such afternoon, I sat. I looked at the anger.
For a long, long time.

And it began to speak to me.

In a solemn, gruff voice, it said:

I’m here to protect you.
I see you being disrespected in your life. And that’s not acceptable.
I’m here to fight.
You are a warrior, just like me.
You come from a tribe of warriors, but you’ve forgotten.
I came into your body to fight. I need a battle to fight. I’m looking for a fight.
I am a fighter — and you know you are too.
You have the fighting spirit. I am fighting your just cause with you.

Now, my body began buzzing with energy as we spoke.
A familiar high.
There’s a feeling of another there.

I said:

I see you.
I see that you’ve been doing this.
I want to know... when did you come in to help me fight?

He answered:

I stepped in when these feelings of disrespect crept in.
I was watching, and I saw that I could help.
I didn’t like how you weren’t fighting.

I asked:

Who are you?

He said:

Well, obviously — I am you.
I’m here to remind you of your fighting spirit.
To never let others disrespect you or walk all over you.

I replied:

If you are me... then who is it that you’re talking to?

He paused. And sized me up with approval.

Not bad. I felt I was you.
I’m impressed that you have the strength to talk to me.

As he said these words, I saw an image:

A strong American Indian, very proud.
He stepped out in front of me, facing me.

I said:

I know that THIS is me:

And I showed him a brilliant gold light — my soul essence.

A gold energy unfurled, marked with unknown lines and patterns, lined with coin shapes and chain shapes, and delicate symbols.

It stretched across my body, like unrolling a scroll, one end in both hands. And it just was.

He responded:

That is very strong.
I’ve never seen that before.
It’s strange to me...
That you can be strong without fighting.

My whole body is buzzing with energy at this point.

I repeated:

Yes.
You can be strong just by being.
Without fighting.

He stood back.
I began to ask more questions...

And then —

he vanished.

woosh. The sensation of “another” was gone.
The energy high was gone.

It was just me again.
Just Josh.
Phew.

—

Make of this story what you will.
If the truth will set us free, as they say —
Then I learned a valuable truth that day and I haven’t seen the warrior since.

True strength is in being.

Just sit.
Courageously watch.
Make no mistake:

This is the path of the warrior.