The Examined Life
Or- Awareness is what we are
Think.
We are moving on to Line of Effort-3, The Spirit.
This LOE can get a bit tricky depending on what you believe. The term ‘spirit’ can be defined as being synonymous with the soul, or as the animating force within us which is responsible for our character and behavioral qualities. Each individual’s worldview will determine their beliefs.
“There are many ways to use the word spirit. We talk about the human spirit as a transcendent ability to find joy among ruin and endure in great trial. We talk about showing spirit, as a synonym for enthusiasm, at a pep rally for a high school sports team. Someone who is precocious or even a little bratty is sometimes referred to as a “spirited child” much like a spirited horse who is unruly, talented, and not easily broken. Each of these small “s” spirits has an element of Spirit. Spirit with a capital “S” is the fertile ground or flame of expression of the spirit. We are conferred conscious life by the intelligence of Spirit, which we inherit and translate into the much more limited forms we choose to exercise on this plane of existence.” —
We have discussed worldview in the past, but a simple definition is— A collection of beliefs about life and the world held by an individual or a group.
The graphic below provides an easy-to-understand summary of various worldviews based on the relationship between the individual, earth, and deity or deities.
Over several years, the U.S. Special Operations Command did a deep dive into spiritual fitness and determined that it is comprised of three components:
Pursuit of Meaning, Purpose, and Value
Self Sacrifice for the Greater Good
Personal Connection with a Higher Power
To better assess and provide spiritual support, USSOCOM built a Spiritual Fitness Survey. You can take it at the link below
SOCOM Spiritual Fitness Scale Survey
Based on everything I have been able to read on the survey results, It seems quite clear that the most resilient among us are those who score more highly on the survey indicating that they:
—Possess a strong sense of purpose and self. This sense of purpose is built around a strongly held set of values.
— This sense of purpose leads to a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.
—The connection to a higher power, (based on worldview) provides purpose, acceptance, and respect, and the wisdom to determine the greater good worthy of sacrifice.
If you have read the previous posts on the Body (LOE-1) and Mind (LOE-2) it should be clear that these three LOEs are interrelated.
The body-mind-spirit connection is the idea that we are more than just our thoughts and that our bodies, emotions, and spirituality all contribute to our identity, health, and who we are. We must develop each in conjunction with the other to remain well-rounded and keep our horses moving forward.
Next week we’re moving on to LOE-4 —Purpose.
Read. Set Yourself to the Eternal
by
Write.
Here’s what author Carole Avriett had to say about Tough Rugged Bastards:
“Travel with Marine Raider, John Dailey, into the unpredictable and brutal world that exists only behind enemy lines. For the first time, Dailey shares his personal experiences following 9/11 of nerve-wracking desert patrols, midnight firefights, and missions where he and his team were often on their own. This is a page turner and burner— a must-read for anyone who is interested in our military and what they do.”
– Carole Avriett, Author of Marine Raiders: The true story of the legendary WWII battalions
Repeat.
Words of wisdom from those who said it best.
“Nothing binds you except your thoughts; nothing limits you except your fear; and nothing controls you except your beliefs.” – Marianne Williamson
I recently had the incredible opportunity to appear on the “In the Name of Service” podcast with Dr. Barb Thompson. Please check it out here.
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See you next Thursday!