What should I do?

[Philosofist]

So far this year, I consider myself to have regressed, lacking the patience and ultimately courtesy I had 2 years ago. I'm not as confident, maybe not as eager, but I am still motivated to change this decline. I've read on societies that I admire, learned about Spartans (although disagreeing with many of their philosophies), Zulu's, Shaolin Monks (highly agreeing with all of their philosophies), Ninja and it all seems that they gather strength most from a kinship, training alongside one another. And I've always tried to better myself, following the one more independent approach I've learned from Samurai.I've wrote a list of habits to make and break over the summer, a list of 50 movies that build character to watch, and a pledge to take every day based off of Hippocrates and the 7 virtues of the Samurai. I've even become so obsessed that I've read up on fictional societies like the Sangheili (Latin for "I honor my Father's blood.") or Elites from Halo). I thought, the closest thing to one of these societies would be to join the military, and I certainly do not want to do the government's bidding. And a better approach, to join Yamakasi, which is even more difficult than joining the military perhaps. Finally, I'm stuck between many controversies in my mind.

If I become confident will I view myself as superior to others?
Should a traceur rely on independant strength rather than team strength?
Should I become a rather stiff person following all rules to better himself or be cool and laid back?
When I train should my mind be psyched up and confident or calm and focused?

After a month of these thoughts, I reached the conclusion; balance.
To choose a single side is much too radical, the ideal way to attain this discipline is to seek both confidence and equality, by independant strength and team strength, both rigid and disciplined and soft and understanding, both psyched up and confident and calm and focused.

So, does anyone else share similar goals as me? Because I am thinking of creating a well disciplined group to train alongside. To share and recieve goals and ideas.

[Philosofist]

@jodie Yeah, I think I'm going to add one more on top of Makoto, Chungi; Yu, especially for parkour.

@Hillexallen Yeah dude, will do. I miss the Sunday mornings with you, Kirill, and Andre, any chance that will happen again?

[monk]

to answer your question (to me), i read up on it at a time when i was looking for a non-western discipline just to have a different.. way of being i guess. i remembered that i didn't see me applying all 7 to one thing in life but that i would choose a few that i felt were the best fit. all of them though make for a great "big picture"

[hillexallen]

I agree with Duper, I think you are overthinking things.

Just practice parkour, be as disciplined as you can, and be happy.

I also think that joining the military does not make you a dog of the government. It makes you a dog of the President. ;) haha

[Philosofist]

Sure, I'll ask you about it on Sunday.

[Chris]

"When I train should my mind be psyched up and confident or calm and focused?"

I have some thoughts on that. We should chat about it next time we see each other.

[Philosofist]

@Everyone -Well parkour is just a piece of the puzzle, a big piece at that. But I've been like this after going through a highly stressful year, losing a few friends, depression. Today after reading this I felt very depressed for half the day, but at least I did not feel confined, later I relaxed and I discovered actually already has most of the things I aspire to.

@Jodie And Makoto and Chungi may be enough, as you said, how did you become familiar with the 7 virtues?

@Aero I wouldn't have realized I even had that voice unless you told me.

@King I think training more frequently will make a big differrence

@Fyrel/Duper Sorry about the military thing, I totally phrased that wrong, I have very high respect for them, otherwise, why would I consider joining?

And yes, I am obsessing over this way too much. I've got what I need.

@Giorgio Even though I realized I've been overdoing it, self improvement to a good extent is good. I'll make a plan and follow it. The thing with music and movies is, I had an epiphany of how these are the major thins that shape the way I feel and the way I think. This discussion may have even opened up a path I may take in college.

@Everyone, thanks again. It's good to have so many opinions, I knew I couldn't keep this to myself too long. But either way, is anyone still up for some serious training? By serious I mean like Sunday's 10am, me, Kirill, Alex, and Andre trained a few weeks like that, very focused training with good conditioning and practicing of weaknesses. I might start an earlier session for Sunday's for those who want to do it. I'll have to know where the 12 o'clock jam will be though. Thanks again everyone.

[SafeNSure]

...and you're not gonna tell us which one, right?
:)

[Iliketovaultthings]

There's a book i want you to read

[Philosofist]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm just tired of feeling lost all the time. Guess I'll just relax and be whoever I am, whoever I've become. My apologies for the harsh statement on the military, it was meant to emphasize our government more than anything, I rephrased it in the above paragraph.

[Ryan Fulmer]

Find that voice. The one that tells you to do it when your body won't go. I find that when I stop hearing these voices I regress because I don't even give an attempt at the higher levels of progression. There is a progression to being comfortable and progressing towards Limitless improvement.

Just lead with your head, notcha brain