francis1)Overcome any Challenge - Miyamoto Musashi's 5 principles

Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary samurai, is often considered as the greatest swordsman in history. He was undefeated in over 60 duels, many of them life-or-death, but his skills extended beyond the battlefield. His final work, "The Way of Walking Alone", shows the twenty one principles that helped him overcome any challenge and become a true legend. In this video we will go over five of his principles that will help you overcome even the toughest of problems. The fifth principle is especially relevant in modern society, so be sure to stick around.

1. Control Your Emotions: Never Act on Impulse

His first, and perhaps most important principle was to never act on impulse. In other words, control your emotions. 

Musashi emphasized the importance of emotional control, stating, "Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling." He’s saying to never act just because you're angry, scared, jealous, or excited. Musashi knew that emotions cloud judgment, and when you’re in trouble, good judgment is your most important weapon. 

Take his duel against Sasaki Kojiro, one of the most skilled and famous swordsmen of the time. Kojiro was known for his speed and his massive sword. Musashi showed up hours late on purpose. By doing this, Musashi took advantage of Kojiro’s temper. 

While Kojiro was growing in frustration, Musashi arrived calm, composed, and already in control of the fight before it even began. Because he had a clear mind and a plan, he dominated the duel. He killed Kojiro with a single blow. 

In modern life, this translates to pausing before reacting - whether it's responding to a provocative email or making a rushed financial decision. Take a second to notice whether your emotions are causing you to rush into action. If so, take some time to breathe and let the emotion calm down a bit. By creating a gap between an event and our response, we can make choices that match our long-term goals rather than our immediate emotions. 

The goal isn’t to feel nothing—it’s to not be ruled by what you feel in the moment. Like Musashi, stay calm when others lose their heads. It will give you a huge advantage. 

2. Embrace Humility: Think Lightly of Yourself

The next principle is to not take yourself too seriously. Musashi wrote, “Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.”

You see, even though he was the most feared swordsman in Japan, Musashi wasn’t arrogant. He lived simply, wore worn clothes, and traveled light. He didn’t chase titles or prestige. He never married. He didn’t build a castle or demand to be called "master." He was a student of life until the end.

One story says that after defeating a rival clan’s best fighters, Musashi didn’t gloat. He left immediately after the duel, vanishing into the woods. No fanfare. No speech. No celebration. That’s humility in action.

Today, we live in a world obsessed with image. We’re encouraged to broadcast every win and show people perfect versions of ourselves. But taking yourself too seriously makes you fragile. The moment someone questions your status, you’re shaken. Criticism would feel like an attack. Failure becomes shame.

Humility is the antidote because it keeps you grounded. Humility helps you to know who you are, which means you won’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone. That quiet confidence makes you unshakable, and it also makes you a better learner. When you stop pretending to know everything, you can finally start improving.

3. Accept Life As It Is — Don’t Waste Energy Denying Reality

That brings us to Musashi's next principle: “Accept everything just the way it is.” That doesn’t mean you should give up. It means facing reality as it is, not as you wish it was.

The principle of acceptance is powerful because it gives you control. When you deny reality, you stay stuck. You waste time wishing things were different: wishing the job was easier, the person was kinder, or the world was fairer.

Musashi didn’t come from privilege. He was born to a minor samurai family and lost his parents young. He was often alone, poor, and in danger. But he never used those facts as excuses. He adapted. He trained relentlessly. He turned his disadvantages into strengths—like fighting with two swords instead of one, which gave him a surprise advantage against traditional samurai.

When you accept the truth of a situation—no matter how uncomfortable—it frees you to act. It’s like being caught in a storm. You can curse the rain, or you can find shelter. Only one of those choices will keep you dry.

In real life, this might mean accepting that your relationship isn’t working, that your business failed, or that you’re starting over at 40. It's hard. But once you stop resisting, you can start solving.

4. Don’t Chase Pleasure to Escape Pain

For his next principle, Musashi warned: “Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.” That advice feels old-fashioned in a world where comfort is king, but it’s one of the most important principles he left behind.

Pleasure isn’t evil. The problem is when we use it to distract ourselves from discomfort. Nowadays, if you’re bored, you scroll social media. If you’re lonely, you drink. If you’re stressed, you shop. This constant chase for dopamine creates a cycle of addiction and avoidance that kills resilience. Worst of all, whenever we avoid a problem, we let it live on instead of solving it.

Musashi lived in extremes: sleeping in caves, training for hours in the mountains, enduring cold, hunger, and isolation. He didn’t do this because he was a masochist. He did it to train his mind to resist temptation and focus on purpose. He believed that a warrior must be able to withstand pain and boredom without losing his sense of direction. Chasing comfort weakens that ability.

In modern life, this could mean taking a cold shower instead of sleeping in. Going to the gym when you're tired. Studying when you'd rather scroll TikTok. It’s not about being miserable—it’s about training your mind not to collapse at the first sign of discomfort. Discipline is built in those moments, and discipline leads to freedom.

5. Guard Against Jealousy — It’s a Poison

Lastly, in another principle Musashi wrote, “Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.” At its core, that’s a warning about jealousy.

Musashi was surrounded by rivals. Younger swordsmen constantly tried to take his head for fame. Political figures feared his growing influence. Others envied his reputation. But Musashi didn’t waste time comparing himself to anyone, he simply focused on his path.

Jealousy is one of the most corrosive emotions. It convinces you that someone else's success is a threat. That their win is your loss. That you're behind. In today’s world—especially online—jealousy is everywhere. We compare jobs, bodies, relationships, vacations, and followers.This only makes us miserable. In the age of social media, where small glimpses of the lives of others are everywhere, this principle serves as a reminder to grow in gratitude and self-awareness.

Jealousy distracts you from your goals. It poisons your relationships. And worst of all, it turns your attention outward—on what others are doing—instead of inward, on what you could be improving.

Musashi’s mindset? If someone is better than you—train harder. If someone has more—be grateful for what you have. If you’re behind—get moving. The cure for jealousy isn’t revenge. It’s progress. Focus on your mission. That’s the way of the warrior.

Miyamoto Musashi didn’t just teach people how to fight. He taught them how to live—with clarity, humility, discipline, and inner peace. His principles aren’t relics of the past. They’re more relevant now than ever.

Let’s recap:

1.Control your emotions. Don’t let feelings drive your decisions.

2.Stay humble. Take your ego out of the equation.

3.Face reality. Accept things as they are, then take action.

4.Seek purpose, not escape. Don’t chase pleasure to avoid pain.

5.Guard against jealousy. Focus on your path, not someone else’s.

Musashi mastered the sword. But more importantly, he mastered himself. And in the end, that’s the highest form of victory.

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