The 'Lemon Principle' Guide to Becoming a Whole-Life Warrior

INTRODUCTION The Way You See Things Matters To begin with, my insights are not new to humanity; this is not the first time people have heard these ideas. But as you probably know, “There is nothing new under the sun”* –– *Book of Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV) Thus, you can feel comfortable with the fact that I am re-presenting wisdom that is so important, yet so often unknown or ignored, that it must be told again and again. I am, however, just giving it a new twist (of Lemon), one I hope will resonate clearly with everyone. Yes, these messages are timeless and universal, and I am here to present these to you in current-time relevance so that you can relate to them directly and personally. “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” –– Henry David Thoreau “If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right” –– Henry Ford “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” –– Harry S. Truman “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” –– Wayne W. Dyer The bottom line: face your Lemons (obstacles*) and keep moving forward! *OBSTACLE (Lemon, Mind-Trap, Self-Saboteur, ...) (noun): Something that blocks one’s way, hindering or preventing progress. Note: No matter what you call it, an obstacle is still an obstacle. One can call it a bump, twist, turn, hiccup, detour, trap, pitfall, stumbling block, hurdle, brick wall, problem, snag, complication, hitch, quandary, dilemma, hindrance, obstruction, barrier, headache, pickle, stew, spot, predicament, jam, Lemon, Mind-Trap, Self-Saboteur, ... Regardless of the name, it is in your way, hindering you from moving forward. EXTRA NOTE: To help you better understand the meaning of certain words and the concepts that I use throughout the book, you can simply refer to the definition section in the back Please refer to periodically, as your understanding will deepen as you grow. “The Wisdom of the Elders” Every day someone, somewhere, is sharing great words of wisdom with somebody, for the purpose of helping them deal with certain events in their life and to assist them in moving forward. There is worthwhile substance behind many readily available quotes, clichés, and famous proverbs. Believe it or not, the old wise sayings that we hear repeatedly, and often ad nauseam, can often provide us with practical wisdom from both the previous generations and the wise souls of today. If we contemplate these sayings, they will inspire and instruct us on how to successfully face life’s obstacles and challenges. With few words, they not only open our eyes and minds, but they also arm us with the appropriate shields and swords needed to survive life’s many ups-and-downs, be they minor or major. The shields protect us from further harm while the swords help us to cut through the delusions and attachments that blind us and hold us back. Listen to and evaluate critically all that you hear: reject and discard what is useless, meaningless, misleading, or harmful; accept and utilize what is useful, meaningful, truthful, and humane. The cliché phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”, is about your attitude to give a negative situation a positive spin in the face of whatever adversity you experience. When you are faced with an unfortunate hindrance or crisis, it is possible to look at it with different eyes, view it from a different perspective, and approach the situation with an open and flexible mind. If you seize the moment, reinforcing the idea that with determination and fortitude your life can be uplifting, then you will continue to go forward and create new opportunities. You must stay courageous in order to forge forward, no matter the circumstances. A setback is usually an opportunity to come back stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th-century philosopher said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” When a crisis hits, you have two choices; either you can give in, roll up in a ball, wave the white flag and surrender in despair, or you can see this challenge from a new perspective, offering you new opportunities to triumph. By bravely meeting the challenge in front of you, you come out mentally and emotionally stronger. So much depends on your attitude and the choices you make at the crossroads. Of course, life would be more pleasant if we did not have to go through any traumatic and difficult experiences. But, to think this way would be unrealistic and not necessarily the best for your journey, your raison d’etre (reason for being; the purpose of one’s existence). Whenever you are tested, as you most certainly will be, you are given a chance to learn not only how to cope, but also how to evolve. This ability can help you to deal internally and externally with whatever Lemons are awaiting you in the future. When you hone your basic skills of Clarity, Will, and Courage, you acquire a level of mental power that will allow you to, with hard work and effort, have the capacity to persevere as a Whole-Life Warrior. You will succeed in your course of action even in the face of difficulties. You will find a way to carry on, to keep going the distance, regardless of whatever is in store for you. If you remember nothing else, at least imprint this on your inner billboard: The goal is to experience your journey as a Whole-Life Warrior, evolving as you go forward, no matter how long it takes, how far it takes you, or to where it might eventually lead. What you do with the Lemons presented to you on this journey is ultimately your choice, and yours alone.