I recently watched a movie entitled Peaceful Warrior based on the book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The story line is based on the experiences of Dan Millman when he was a young college athlete preparing for the Olympics as a gymnast. It seemed that Dan dreamed a lot about his goals. Very vivid dreams and often they came true.

One of his dreams was of an incident on the rings where he shattered his leg. As the movie progressed Dan in fact did shatter his leg in an accident while riding a motorcycle. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

One evening Dan met a middle aged gas station attendant who seemed to have physical abilities beyond what his age should allow. In one scene this attendant, played by Nick Nolte, was seated in front of the station and with Dan’s back turned to him in an instant he was standing on the roof of the station. You can imagine, Dan wanted to know how he did that. This began a quest for Dan to understand the power within that he could tap into in order to get what he wanted; the Olympic Gold.

Personal Mastery

Night after night Dan and the man, who became known as Socrates to Dan, would get together. Soc would challenge Dan in physical challenges as well as mental challenges. In each challenge Dan would fail. Soc repeatedly told him to take out the trash, meaning to remove the trash from his mind. The self-limiting self-talk that was preventing him from achieving his goals.

Like in another well known movie, Dan was subjected to doing tasks that he felt were beneath him; cleaning toilets, sweep floors and such. Until one night he was so upset that he left in a huff. The next thing you know, Dan is in the accident I mention earlier ending up in the hospital with a full leg cast and his dream of becoming an Olympic Champion shattered much like his leg.

How many times have you experienced as setback that seemed insurmountable? I heard a speaker recently say that “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” That was certainly true in this story. Although his doctors and coach believed Dan would never compete again Dan dreamed otherwise. With the help of Soc he began a regiment of practice and therapy that in months had him in condition to return to the rings.

All of us at one time or another have experienced the nay-Sayers that attempt to keep us from achieving our goals. You aren’t smart enough, good enough, don’t have the money, don’t have the time, lack of family support and on and on.

Dan was no different. His coach and the doctors were the nay-Sayers this time. Dream stealers if you will. But Dan with Soc’s help and encouragement proved them all to be wrong. He conditioned himself to a high degree of physical excellence and then competed in the Olympic tryouts.

In the end, Soc disappeared and Dan never learned his real name, where he came from, or why he befriended him. But all the lessons he learned on the journey helped him create his dream. All too often we put more importance on the destination than the journey. When most of our greatest life lessons are learned on the journey.

If you haven’t discovered your purpose or been able to create your dreams and goals consider attending a Personal Mastery Seminar facilitated by Klemmer & Associates. Or you can check out our weekly online webinar at www.klemmer.com. The rewards can be life-changing and life-long.

You deserve to have your hearts desires.

John Edwards
Advanced Leadership Seminar Facilitator