Intensity

Intensity

In life, we as human beings, often times-have to perform in an intense, and even serious manner in order to successfully compete in the game of life. We can't always be laughing and joking, where we never take anything serious, for if that were the case then we would never get anywhere because no one would ever take us serious. Now I'm not speaking of being the type of individual that is so intense that they make other people feel uncomfortable because of their  intense ways. I'm speaking of carrying a reverence about you as you walk the path of life, where you remain quiet and serious, but also have a sense of humor when life calls for it.

According to the dictionary, the definition of intensity is:"exceptionally great concentration, power, or force." This life that we are all a part of requires a great amount of concentration, power, and force in order to be successful, in not only our daily  endeavors, but also in our efforts as we diligently strive to put off the natural man, and his loud way of life, so that we can be free of the world and all of its quick and immediate pleasures. To achieve freedom from the world, we must first be ready to intensely fight the WAR against the world. When I speak of the world, I'm speaking of the worldly, or the quick immediate pleasures that are short term, and tear away at the very light of the human spirit. The human spirit at birth, and even through childhood is made up of charity and innocence, but it is only as we grow into adulthood that we become more exposed to the worldly; which this worldly then pushes aside our reverence and intensity, then causing us to lose our ability to concentrate on the things that matter the most. Now our concentration, focus, and intensity is more towards the quick and immediate pleasures of the world, which is a world full of highs, lows, laughs, laziness, and even the eventual wandering into strange and dark paths.We have to be a focused individual if we want to be a successful individual, which is why that it is so important that we carry an intensity about us as we strive to overcome our addictive behavior. Our addiction would rather us not be intense individuals, for that would mean that we were serious about changing our ways, which our addiction is against because she wants us to stay in an active relationship with her. Our addiction wants us laughing always; and being loud always, because that would mean that there would be no reverence about us, which reverence is the tool that keeps our personalities at bay. When we aren't intense in our ways, or are not reverent in our behavior, then we run the risk of letting our personalities get too far away from us. If our personalities get too far away from us then our addiction gets closer to us, and even gains momentum as she persistently tries to creep back into our mind. We as addicts must be slow and simple individuals, where we carry a unique reverence and intensity about us always. Not an overbearing intensity, nor a cocky character; but a reverence and quiete confidence that emulates a spiritual character, which is a character that is confident, honest, and full of charity.Intense In Living the WAR LifestyleThe WAR lifestyle requires an intensity in order live it to the fullest. A casual effort is a lost effort when it comes to living the WAR Lifestyle. If we come into the gym experience casually, where we don't work on improving, then our outcome will be casual as well. If we just go through the motions, never logging or keeping track of our loads and times, then we will eventually fade out and become lost to the WAR way of life. We need to come into the gym with intensity, and a firm desire to learn, and even improve. Even on days when we don't feel like making it happen, we still make happen because that is the way of the WAR Lifestyle, and is the foundation that true character is built upon. By doing stuff on a daily basis that makes us feel uncomfortable is how we grow. If we walked through life, never attempting to step outside of our comfort zone, then we would never know what it was like to truly achieve something, for it is only through our failures that we learn about ourselves. The WAR Lifestyle, in it's entirety, gives us opportunities each and every day to overcome our fears by helping us to step outside of our comfort zone, and even being challenged on a daily basis to find out what we as human beings are truly made of; that is the beauty of the WAR lifestyle; it provides an avenue for us to gain confidence in ourselves by doing something each day that might scare us. Being scared is a big part of life for the recovering addict. Now that they are clear-the world seems to be coming at them quick, which is a very scary thing for them since they have been in hiding for so long. The WAR gym experience, coupled with the spiritual component, helps the addict to not be afraid anymore; and to confidently step up and fight their way back into the world, even when they might not feel comfortable doing so. The recovering addict needs to come to the realization that's it's okay to be afraid, but to not let being afraid stop them from doing the things that they are afraid of. If you are afraid of speaking in public, or even in social interactions, that's okay, but don't let it stop you from performing when the opportunity presents itself; but realize that you probably aren't going to be perfect, and that it's okay, because this is nothing more than an opportunity for you to learn, gain experience, and to eventually become healed through the progression that the Invisible Hand of Help is slowly guiding you through. He knows you are afraid, but He is with you, and is even eager to assist you in making your weaknesses become strengths; but through His slow healing process you must have a reverence and a focused intensity about you, since that is what it takes to keep him close to you as you work on overcoming your addictive ways, and then growing towards your full human potential.

-Dustin Hawkins