NERVE

A person's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose when facing a demanding situation.

"Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines." - Paul Brunton

This is the last topic of discussion in regards to Warrior Training, for the time being. I challenged a few on the Team to a crash course in Warrior-Hood, and assigned them topics each week, for several months. Then, I started implementing a few here in the newsletter. I will be adding the crash course to the site in the near future, for those interested.

Many times when we think of nerve, we conjure up an image in our mind similar to the one pictured above. Nerves are part of the nervous system. They regulate the body and motor control. The nerves provide a pathway for messages to travel back and forth throughout one’s body. Without nerves, one would be motionless, thoughtless, lifeless. 

Overactive nerves, on the other hand, can age an individual prematurely, cause memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, panic disorder, and overall chaos within one’s being.

Certain elements interfere with nerve transmission and are to be avoided:

• Chemicals
• Heavy metals
• Vaccinations
• Viral infections
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Drugs
• Sugar
• Caffeine

Stress also plays a major factor in the health of one’s nerves.

HEALTHY NERVES REQUIRE:

• Rest
• Sleep
• Nutrient dense food and drink
• Clean, pure water
• Silence, reflection, meditation
• Secure environment: Relationships, work, and living space
• Love, affection, care, nurturing
• Emotional control, composure

HERBS THAT FEED THE NERVOUS SYSTEM:

All of the following can be made as a tea or taken in capsules.

• Acorus
• Ashwaganda
• Chamomile
• Gingko
• Kava Kava
• Oat Straw 
• Siberia Ginseng
• Skullcap
• Valerian 

IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR THE NERVES:

• B Complex
• B1: Trout, pork, sunflower seeds, nuts, wheat bread, peas, asparagus
• B2: Cheese, almonds, lean steak, oily fish, hardboiled eggs, spinach
• B3 (Niacin): Fish, chicken, turkey, lamb liver, peas, portobello’s, avocado
• B6: Sunflower seeds, pistachios, tuna, turkey, chicken, dried prunes
• Vitamins C: Bell peppers, guavas, dark green leafs, kiwi, broccoli, berries
• Vitamin D: Cod liver oil, oily fish, portobello’s, dairy, eggs, whole grains
• Phosphorus: Seafood, milk, raw egg yolks, whole wheat, barley, corn, pea
• Calcium: Milk, cheese, raw egg yolk, apricots, prunes, cabbage, spinach
• Sulphur: Cabbage, cauliflower, onion, asparagus, carrots, mustard greens
• Iodine: Powdered dulse, se lettuce, carrots, pears, onions, cod oil, kelp
• Magnesium: Grapefruit, oranges, barley, corn, gots milk, coconut
• Manganese: Raw egg yolk, almonds, walnuts, parsley, endive

As one feeds the nerves, lowers stress, and maintains a lifestyle conducive to balance, they will find they become quite pliable to life, and very happy.

The ‘nerve’ I’m referring to today in conjunction with the Warrior is more defined as:

the match will be a test of nerve: confidence, assurance, coolheadedness, self-possession; courage, bravery, pluck, boldness, intrepidity, fearlessness, daring; determination, willpower, spirit, backbone, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, mettle, grit, true grit, stout-heartedness; informal guts, spunk, moxie. To brace oneself mentally to face a demanding situation.

As you can see, many of these words describe topics I’ve already addressed. What makes ‘nerve’ different? 

I believe ‘nerve’ is what solidifies all the aforementioned. One must have a healthy nervous system to have ‘nerve’. A healthy nervous system allows one to objectively analyze any situation at hand. 

When one’s nervous system is depleted, whether through malnutrition, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and/or habits, or their environment (chemicals and so forth), they have not the means to deal with stress, let alone think objectively, and calculate a successful plan in an efficient manner.

This is when I find meal plans are thwarted, training sessions cancelled, etc., the individual does not have the necessary resources to cope appropriately, and therefore, looks for, and takes…. the easy way out, putting off their goals for yet another day.

This happens to all of us from time to time. Anyone who has kids knows this, has experienced it, and so on. It is to be the exception, however, and not the rule.

‘Nerve’ is the foundation of all further, future, successful action, and health: Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Therefore, a Warrior does his best to feed and nourish his nervous system, as the Warrior is often in and out of Flight or Fight mode on a consistent basis for an undetermined amount of time. The nervous system plays a crucial part in his endeavors, and success, therefore, his resources both internally and externally, are carefully guarded, and maintained.

You do not have to be  Warrior to experience fight or flight. Hell, one could watch  movie in a theater and go into fight or flight, have a nightmare, extreme insomnia, work and/or family stress, you name it.

Feed your nerves folks. Take a look at the list of foods that nourish this body system. Incorporate these foods into your daily diet. As you will find, many of these foods cross-over into another category. Two for one, can’t beat it.

Challenge for this week:

Feed your nervous system/nerves.

CONFIDENCE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. 
~Vincent Van Gogh

This week’s topic is Confidence, and Self-Confidence. Yes, there is a difference. Many times, people have plenty of confidence when they are with their friends, in a group, with their Bestie, or significant other. Many times when you take the other people out of the equation, the person left may not be too comfortable, or confident, any longer.

In other words, self-confidence is found to be lacking, even though the individual can be quite talented, and great when in a group, or when in someone else’s company with whom they are familiar. This is one difference between confidence, and self-confidence.


CONFIDENCE:

To succeed at anything one desires to achieve in life, they must start somewhere. Most people will only try once they have built up a fair degree of confidence in regards to the task at hand. Others, will not try at all, for they have already determined themselves to be a failure. ‘As you say, so it is’. Yet others, such as the Warrior, examines the situation, carefully. The Warrior goes within to find if the venture is to his benefit or not.... Will it help him grow? For what purpose does it serve? Will it help someone out? Once a Warrior makes a decision to go for it, he goes, fully confident, and self-confident, whether he has experienced it before, or not.

These three different approaches are all to be respected, for it is each individual’s journey, and we know not the contract another has come here to fulfill. We can only judge for ourselves.

Those lacking confidence generally will be found in jobs, and so forth, that place them in a position of servitude. “Your wish is my command.” They prefer not to be the one ‘calling the shots’, but rather have a ‘just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it’, type of personality. They have no desire to progress/rise to a CEO position, they rarely ask for a raise, and they prefer to be left to their job, routine, etc., and are very good at it.

The day an individual desire’s to acquire confidence, is the day they welcome a certain degree of risk into their life, and ego. Generally, this is how one acquire’s confidence, through successful risk taking. It can be a

risk associated with a job, a relationship, a challenge your best friend dangles in front of you, a bet with your spouse, running your first race, or doing your first competition. In other words, opportunities for building confidence abound all around us, each and every day. We simply pick and choose.

So, if you’re looking to gain more confidence, then begin seeking those opportunities, embrace them, you have nothing to lose. 

SELF-CONFIDENCE:

Self-confidence is just that, being confident in yourself: Your appearance, strengths, speech, mannerisms, communication skills, work ethic, abilities, skills, and so forth.

People who are self-confident radiate confidence, and they come in all shapes and sizes, with every variance imaginable. Some are blind, some are obese, some in a wheelchair, some bald, tall, short, loud, quiet, the list goes on, and on. What others use as a reason not to be confident, these people turn inside out. They begin with themselves. They care not what another thinks, or believes them, ‘to be’. They are out to live, achieve, grow, and would rather not fail, but if they do, they simply look at it as a learning opportunity, they never ‘failed’, they learned. One only fails when they learn nothing from the experience.

To build self-confidence require’s a person to put their ego aside. One must stop allowing others expressions, words, comments, dismay, giggles, whatever.... to control them. This requires the ego to take a vacation, relax.

The sooner one can accept themselves for who they are, and not based on what they feel they can or cannot do, nor what they do or do not look like, and so forth, the better. In other words, the self-judgement must stop. This is solely the ego’s territory.

Accept self. Believe in self. Talk nice to self. Treat self as you would treat your best friend. Nurture self. Observe self. Reward self. Pat self on the back for a day well done. Sing with self. Dance with self. Do not be afraid of self. Embrace self. 

It is up to each of us to help and nurture those along the way. No one needs Joe Schmoe flipping unnecessary comments, but everyone can use an honest word of encouragement. We all have our days. Some days we feel like a lion, others perhaps, we’d rather stay in bed and pull the covers, hahaha!!!

Be patient with yourself and others.

Realize, you truly have the potential to become anyone you want to be. To accomplish anything you truly desire. Yes, you DO have what it takes.

On days or at times you’re feeling like a lion, share the joy and encourage someone, it can even be a complete stranger.

Then, Karma comes around, and on a day when you’re feeling less than a lion, someone is bound to send a word of encouragement, a compliment, or something of the sort, your way. Sometimes, this is all it takes to turn one’s ‘day’ around (day meaning perception). 

WARRIORS:

Warriors have an innate drive, confidence, and desire to ‘do the work’, whatever the war may be. No more. No less. 

COMPOSURE

The State or Feeling of Being Calm and in Control of Oneself.

I absolutely LOVE this picture!!!!! I could literally gaze into it for hours and ‘get lost’. Throughout my life, since a little girl, I’ve had this uncanny habit of taking ‘Mental pictures’. What is a mental picture?  Whenever I saw something that was just so beautiful, and I didn’t have a camera with me, I’d form my hands around my eyes, blocking everything else out, but what I desired to see, and I would ‘click’, my camera, and announce out loud to everyone, “Mental Picture!” Hahaha! 

My family and friends would always stop to look at what I was taking a picture of. “Jill, its a sunrise, it’s a sunset, it’s a mountain, a flower, clear blue sky, a bird, a stone…….”, and go on with what they were doing. Meanwhile, I was mesmerized. I would sit and have a conversation with that sunset, bird, and flower, and didn’t leave until I felt there was a fair exchange. I do it to this day. Hahaha!!!

I’m not Webster. 

I’m Jill, and today I’m going to share my definition of Composure. 

Composure: Is mindfully handling one’s emotions in the face of any stress, event, person, or circumstance. It is to be at peace within, and radiating that peace with-out. It is the peace that passeth all understanding. It is to be at One with All that Is.

Whether you desire to be a Warrior or not, composure is the name of the game. I’ve been covering various topics over the past few weeks that all have to do with the making of a Warrior. For a Warrior, these areas cannot go unnoticed, they beckon at each moment of decision, however, the value of each is priceless in every person’s life. Embrace.

There are many scenario’s where composure is tested:

• At home
• In the workplace
• In long lines
• At stop lights
• In sporting events: This one is especially interesting. Grown men,  considered ‘Professionals’, acting like ill-mannered children on a playing field, and now, even at their homes, and in public. Professional? Please. 
• Children’s sporting events. (And it’s not the children losing composure).

The list could go on. Wherever there is one who lacks composure, there is…. drama.

As I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, we are all examples to those around us, and many times, those we may not even be aware of.

Composure has many benefits. I’d like to share the following list, because Robert put it very nicely:

29 Benefits of Composure for Leaders 

by Robert Ferguson  (fergusonvalues.com)

    Be more decisive.

    Stay clear headed.

    Cope better with stress.

    Possess increased resolve.

    Project a more positive attitude.

    Less likely to lie (to ourselves and others).

    Enjoy more rewards (for doing the right thing).

    Become more focused and goal-oriented.

    Enjoy a greater sense of accomplishment.

    Produce better results in negotiations.

    Remain visible for followers to see.

    Builds confidence in others.

    Maintain self-control.

    Helps preserve personal honor.

    Creates healthier interpersonal relationships.

    Less susceptibility to abusive behaviors (drugs, alcohol).

    Ability to diffuse tension (often through humor).

    Helps avoid procrastination.

    Stimulates momentum.

    Promotes success.

    Preserves integrity.

    Fewer excuses.

    Reduces aggression.

    Helps avoid procrastination.

    Promotes better mental health.

    More readily accept responsibilities.

    Encourages superior performance.

    More effective coping skills.

    Leads to greater wealth.

Use this list to motivate you, empower you. So many character building benefits.

Now, the question is, “How do I do it?”

JILL’S 5 STEP PROCESS TO COMPOSURE:

1. Be Still: Quiet, Calm, Centered, Immovable, Silent    (As the water pictured above)
2. Eliminate noise by allowing the Stillness to ‘absorb’ it.
3. Go to your Higher Power and ‘see’ things, not as they appear to be, but rather as they ‘are’.
4. Empower self - from the Stillness
5. Respond intelligently

As Greg Swanson, so wonderfully put it:

“When you look deeper you’ll find that the person that has the mental strength skill of concentration also has mental composure…poise if you will. 

So keep thinking peace, acting peace, until you are at peace with your entire inner world.

When you have peace of mind you are not timid or anxious, or fearful, or rigid and you will not allow any disturbing thought to influence you. You discard all fears and think of yourself as a spark of the Divine Being, as a manifestation of the “One Universal Principle” that fills all space and time. Think of yourself thus as a child of the Infinite, possessing infinite possibilities right where you are.

Make yourself a concentrated dynamo from which your thoughts vibrate to others. Then you are a power in the world.”

One of my favorite poems by MIRO:

The Code of Bushidō

Many different warriors

Have walked the face of Earth

From many different areas

But all shared the same worth

One of these was Bushidō:

“Way of the Warrior-Knight”

Although these ancient Japanese

Nobles are gone from sight

The seven virtues that they all

Adhered to still live on

The Warrior-Knight’s way continues

To inspire and spawn

People from all walks of life

To strive for Rectitude

Courage and Benevolence

Respect that they imbued

Honesty and Honor and the

Final virtue of

Loyalty all formed the code

Which set them all above

Other people who did not

Adhere to self-imposed

Laws and regulations that

Would keep their calm composed

Seven virtues that make up

The moral principles

That keep a warrior grounded

Whenever trouble pulls

Virtues that can anchor us

Firmly in peace and grace

Whenever anger, frustration

And setbacks show their face

                                   ~Miro

Have a fabulous week. 

Have, keep, and maintain composure.  

Health!!!