Dynamic Life Systems

It's Not Supernatural. It's Not Spiritual; It's Stoicism

Aside from being often regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of its era and synonymous with the theme intro for the long-running TV show Supernatural, the classic song from Kansas is an excellent lyrical look at Stoic philosophy.

According to songwriter Kerry Livgren in an interview with norselandsrock.com, "The song was not written to express anything specifically religious. More precisely, the music sounds spiritual searching, and Livgren would claim that his songwriting up to that point was all about 'searching' in some way." And it is in this way I find so much Stoic ideology in the verses.

The song opens with the lyrics.
"Carry on, my wayward son. There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more, no?" and then is repeated as the chorus.

Marcus Aurelius himself could have penned such words in his journal, which we now read and refer to as Mediations. In Mediations, you find all these prompts and reminders. Marcus writes to himself that this man had seen the ravages of war, was betrayed by people he loved, buried four of his children, worked in a toxic environment of the Roman senate, and had his reign marked by natural disaster and the plague.

But despite all this, Marcus kept getting out of bed each morning, pushing himself to do so early. He carried on, knowing when his time came, he would find peace.

Lyrics like "Once I rose above the noise and confusion
To get a glimpse beyond this illusion," showcase to me the stoic values of knowing what internal and external controls is and to look at things as they are, not how you or the world around you perceives them to be.

"How good these perceptions are at getting to the heart of the real thing and penetrating through it, so you can see it for what it is!"
― Marcus Aurelius

"Masquerading as a man with a reason, My charade is the event of the season, And if I claim to be a wise man, well, It surely means that I don't know". Another superb example of the Stoic reminder that wisdom comes only through learning the things you do not know and those that claim they do know nothing at all.

"I know only one thing: that I know nothing."
― Socrates

"On a stormy sea of moving emotion Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean I set a course for winds of fortune" This is perhaps the most direct inspiration I find when I think of the founder of Stoicism Zeno, who, as the story goes founded stoicism only after losing his entire life fortune in. shipwreck broke he went to book store found the teaching of Socrates and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered a shipwreck."
― Zeno

Take from this what you will; know if you are going through some s**t, carry on and find peace when you are down, and if you are having trouble finding that peace, pick up some Stoic reading material or hit play on my favourite Kansas track, turn the volume way up and sing the words out loud.

Dynamic Chad

Over a year ago, I listened to a mindset podcast that offered eight tips on what not to do when you wake up. So I implemented them, and a year later, I am sharing them with you as I found them highly effective.

First: Stop waking up at different times; one thing your body wants to do is have a routine; it is best to be in line with circadian rhythms; this includes the weekends.

Second: Stop hitting the snooze; if you hit the snooze, you are automatically starting your day off with a loss; you were fully conscious before bed; you told yourself you were going to wake up at that time, and then you heard that alarm go off, and you sell yourself all the excuses why you need to sleep in don't set multiple alarms wake up with your first alarm otherwise it sets you off on the wrong foot.

Three: Stop looking at your phone immediately; getting an alarm that isn't your phone would be beneficial, making it a lot easier not to check your phone first thing when you wake. Another handy tip is to put that alarm clock on the other side of the room so you must get up and turn it off. The benefit of this is you aren't negating with yourself; you decided when you went to bed last night to wake at the time sent when you self and start your day with a loss. Also, it helps avoid checking social media and taking in all that negativity, allowing the mind to up clear. Checking texts, emails etc. means your brain has to start putting out the daily fires first thing take the morning for you.

Four: Make your bed. I must confess this one is for me often neglected as when I wake, I leave my partner asleep in the bed, so I can't make it, and on the days I wake alone. I need to remember to implement it. But I have had some days when I d remember to do this, and the feeling I get is a winning one; it takes thirty seconds; it may not seem like a big deal. I only sleep in my room, so it feels like a useless task by if you wake up and are successful in not hitting snooze and not checking your phone. You make the bed; that is three wins right there, all at your day's start, and you know how much better you feel? Try it and see if you are one hundred per cent better for it because your brain releases dopamine with each win and motivates you to go and get the successes through the day.

Five: Stop taking warm showers. I know this one for me. It was not easy to implement this one since I like to shower before bed, but I did it and felt better about it. There is so much information online on the benefits of a cold shower, but it first wakes me up better than caffeine and helps build a mental fortitude in overcoming the things I don't want to do. Tip have a warm shower before bed and wake and hit yourself with a quick cold blast.

Six: Do not wake up and do anything that isn't for you; your morning routine should be primarily about you and getting your best start to your day so you can keep going thru it and improving upon it; if you have responsibilities, that's fine, but what about waking up before you have to do these things.

Seven: Stop drinking coffee right away. Studies have found that your cortisol levels which are your stress hormones, are at their absolute highest when you wake up; think bout this and how often, as the alarm goes off, stress you feel about going off to work. I know I get it. I don't get it on the days off, so the worst thing you can do when feeling this way is to add coffee, which will increase the levels. It is recommended you wait an hour before your first cup to allow your stress levels to go down.

Eight: Stop eating. It's called breakfast; we break the fast; I don't believe in intermittent fasting; I don't believe In skipping breakfast, But I have now become accustomed to waiting about two hours. I have a large cup of water for three dates, which keeps me going until I can have a proper breakfast.

Power EXTREME!!

One thing that holds people back or propels them forward is the story they tell themselves. Have you ever known someone who constantly says how broken, fat, poor or whatever the example they are? Guess what? They will always be broken because that is the story they are telling themselves. They are saying the words they identify with and then displaying them back with those words and making that reality real. I have people in my life who have been telling me the same story for years. And guess what aint a dam thing changed for them.

Part of Manifestation is in the words that you use. So if You don't want to be any of these things, stop telling yourself that. There is so much power in our words, so choose them wisely.

Words have an energy around them. I have told you once before the word Abracadabra means to speak into existence. Think about the phrase I have to. How often do you find yourself saying these words? The reality is you don't have to do s**t you don't want to. Think about how having to do something feels, how does that feel physically inside your body, and how does your mind respond to that thought of having to do something? For me, it feels constructive and heavy, like a straight jacket, and that's not a good feeling. Conjure up a memory of being a kid again when you were asked to help you complete some essential chore, and you would drag your feet and slump down and get it done with such low enthusiasm. That's what saying I have to be like as an adult.

So when you say to use a phrase like oh, "I have to work out", are you bringing a positive mindset around it and creating motivational energy? No, You're Not! The energy and power you have behind your words are compelling because people do not think about the energy they bring. Saying we have to do something resonates in our subconscious and lowers enthusiasm for the activity.

I have made it a habit of saying I get to work out today instead of I have to. I remind myself of all the people who didn't get to wake up today or are living with illness and disability and can't work out. I tell myself how fortunate I am to get off my ass, move my body, and lift heavy things. And I use this approach outside of physical activity, saying to myself I choose to do this activity. Like I choose not to go out and stay home to save and work on my well-being, I choose to be restrictive on bad habits for my health. How much better does that sound? How much better do you feel when you change the words from I have to I choose to, or I get to? There is power and sovereignty in those words?

A tip I picked up is for each rep I do, I tell myself you're strong, and if I do 36 reps across eight lifting exercises, that means I have told myself I am strong a total of 288 times and that reverses any story in my head that doesn't line up with I am strong. We all have these stories we tell ourselves, and if we are to be in control of the narrative, then we should talk to ourselves with empowerment.

Now I have given you some hot tips; leave phrases such as I don't have enough time and lack energy. Instead, use one of the most potent phrases: I Am.....

Only say the words I am followed by words of empowerment. This phrase programs you in the narrative story conversation that is consistently in your head; it either opens the door to more possibilities or slams it shut, and you are the one that chooses

Know there are three parts to creating a powerful affirmation one, it has to be true; two, it has to be present tense three, it has to be empowering.

Note how this differs from the concept explored in the novel and Netflix series The Secret, which uses affirmations to attract what you want, and in terms of, say, your body, it doesn't allow you to kid yourself about the kind of shape you are in

So instead of saying I am in great shape when you are not. Say I am working hard to create a strong and healthy body. When you say this, you are opening the doors to create any reality you want for yourself and changing the narrative inside your head to something empowering; the human mind has over 60 000 negative thoughts running thru it; you can change that by saying more empowering words to yourself.

The words you use do create the reality you have, Dynamic Chad.

Beware the Black Dog

Yesterday March 19th, I geared up for a ride, this time with a cause, as it was a ride supporting the Black Dog Institute. The site of all forms of riders of all ages and riding classes coming together in the name of helping improve mental health moved me. There we all were, cruisers, sports, adventure tourers, all riding in staggered formation in numbers over a hundred strong, heading down the Stuart Highway, sun shining, the wind in our faces and a feeling of the open road on two wheels. I felt great to be alive then a moment of reflection overcame me as I thought of the cause we are riding or those I have lost to su***de and those close to me still struggle with the black dog.

Mental health, su***de, and depression are all issues that have touched my life and affected not only me but people close to me, as I am sure they have done the same for so many of you reading this. The statics on mental health, depression and su***de are staggering. I often advocate for the mental health benefits of training and exercise and the embodiment of Stoic philosophy. Is that a cure-all? f**k no, I don't think there is such a thing, but they can be vital aids in helping combat it. (the name of the institute is taken from the capture of Winston Churchill's descriptions of his depressive states as a black dog, and Churchill is a noted Stoic).

I want this post to serve as something other than an advocate for the passions I follow in my training and study of Stoic philosophy as my shield and sword against the dark. Instead, I want it to be a highlighter for the support network, working to bring light to the darkness.

And if you ever are in a situation to give mental health first aid, here is an action plan outlined by Mental Health Australia
Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis
Listen and communicate non judgementally
Give support and information
Encourage the person to get appropriate mental health
Encourage other suports

For crisis support, you can contact:
Lifeline 24/7 crisis support: 13 11 14
Su***de callback service: 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
Mensline: 1300 789 978
Standby- support after su***de: 1300 727 247

For information and support, visit:
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.healthdirect.gov.au
www.mhfa.com.au
www.livingworks.com.au

Dynamic Chad

Mind your f**king manners C**T!

Far too often, I catch myself in a s**t mood, and my attitude quickly reflects my spirit; this becomes evident when I interact with others, especially those testing my patience. But why should others have to be mindful of my bad mood or accept my s**t attitude?

No matter your philosophy or path, you shouldn't have your mood and emotions dictate your manners. I get that we are not emotionless, that we all feel things, but that is also why when we feel pi**ed off, we should still be using good manners, being kind and courteous, and being reasonable, as our s**t attitude can ruin someone else day, which may very well be undeserving of it.

No matter how you feel, others are not required to walk on glass around you. They are not responsible for treating you with kid's gloves simply because you are in a bad mood. Your responsibility is to conduct yourself as a person of good character, acting with honour and integrity, no matter how you feel daily.

It is never wise to allow emotions to dictate your words or actions. Be you a student of Stoicism or not, one must learn to control their feelings, conduct themselves with virtue, and try to do the highest good despite their emotions or mood.

Master your emotions before they master you and dictate your actions.

Dynamic Chad

Last week I put off this weekly post as I was travelling home to be with my family as we laid to rest an elderly member whose time had passed. It was not a solemn occasion but a reminder of the strength and unity of our family and the celebration of a life lived.

As I sit here now, a week later, I put off writing yet another reminder of how death is a part of the deal of life. I have written previously on the Stoic practice of memento mori, and don't seek to be so morbid as to remind you that death is approaching.

Instead, I would like you to focus on making the most of your time and doing your best in the present moment. Working hard be kind leave a positive impact on the world, just as my late family member had done for me. And by us doing this and acting in the highest good for ourselves, we can inspire others to follow our work; not only have we made ourselves better in this way, but we are, by default, making the world better.

The Stoics taught eudaimonia, which is a sense of fulfilment and contentment, and whilst I can't speak for the dead, I am sure my late relative would have felt this, especially as they looked down from their resting place and saw all of us doing well, making the world, a better place trying to give back what they had spent all these years giving us.

So please do not run from or deny your eventual demise but embrace it, use it to live your best life, get up, move and exercise, eat well, read and solve a puzzle, and become involved in your community. If you can't afford it or are unable to see the world, then explore where you can. Just make sure you do well and live well. Act with good and kindness, go out in the world and uphold the virtues of temperance, justice, wisdom and courage.

Dynamic Chad

Don't Waste Shots

This morning I was wasting time on IG. I saw a post from John Wayne Par of him fighting; his Thai Boxing abilities constantly inspire me, but what inspired me to write this post was his comment on the video about his game plan not to waste shots and make sure everything he thru hurts. If you watch the clip, it shows he sticks to the game plan. It got me thinking about how this game plan works in the ring and your life.

I know I waste too much of my time with lazy effort or shots that don't count, and lately, I have been thinking F**k that! Because, regarding your self-defence, being lazy and wasting shots will hurt you. And it's the same in your self-development, whether it be reading, learning, resistance training, diet, or an opportunity to practice temperance. So please do not waste your shots; make them count. You want to ensure every improvement opportunity will be well-spent and that you are sticking to the game plan. Because you only get so many rounds before this life is over

I read an article about The Power of Sticking to the Game Plan and how
some athletes abandon their game plan at the slightest momentum shift, even when it works effectively. It seems complicated to grasp that an athlete would stop following the prescription that gave them an advantage early in the competition. But I see it happen in myself and others pursuing self-development.

For some, sticking to the game plan can be challenging, especially when you hit a speed bump. Nevertheless, sticking to the game plan is often the best option for getting your desired results. Abandoning your game plan at first sight of adversity can quickly make your results spiral out of control.

We often abandon our game plan when we feel pressure, outcome thinking, loss of momentum or something derails us, and we fail to make adjustments.

A game plan is a valuable tool in your self-development self-defence arsenal; it helps you play to your strengths, keeps you focused, keeps you prepared, and boosts your confidence in your ability to win.

Dynamic Chad

Can You Love Yourself?

Ugh! I will not even acknowledge the marketing surrounding this date on our calendar, but I will write about the day's theme and how love is vital on your path to living a more dynamic life. The path of self-development is strengthened by learning to love oneself and others.

When I speak of self-love, I don't speak of it in an egotistical sense. I say of it in creating positive change in your life because when you love yourself, those around you reap the benefits. Loving yourself means you have more energy to train; you will look after yourself better and, by default, show up better for those around you. You are more likely to explore the beauty that life offers.

The Stoics are often criticised for being non-romantic, even devoid of love and emotion; this is untrue. When I read what the Stoics have to offer on the concept of love, I don't find the common misconceptions that they were devoid of love and emotion; on the contrary, I see many passages of expression of love and how it is critical in living a life per one's nature. Therefore, if a Stoic is to live by one's nature, they should not deny themselves love; this includes loving ones self minus the ego; after all, love is one of the most natural human emotions.

Seneca kept it simple when it came to finding love. He offers this advice from another philosopher Hecato about how to attract love into our lives:

"I shall show you a love potion without a drug, herb, or incantation of any sorceress: if you want to be loved, love."
Seneca (Quoting from Hecato)

That's pretty straightforward stuff knowing when you find love in yourself. You may find love in others. There are, however, caveats the stoics speak of when it comes to love:

Know that relationships are temporary, fleeting things. Do not lose yourself in fantasy or desire about lives or situations different from your own. Don't become impassioned by lust, nor indulge yourself in unrequited feelings or toxic relationships. A lesson learned from Stoicism is that it is better to be alone than in a bad relationship. Therefore, you must find value in yourself as much as in a partner.

Just know the benefits of loving yourself far outweigh hating yourself, so give more love to yourself and those around you.

Your not so secret valentine, Dynamic Chad

Confidence MAN!

The etymology of confidence means "intense trust." this may not make sense when you think about your relation to your own confidence. So let's break it down with insights I gleaned from a podcast.

I would feel at odds with myself when friends said, " Oh man, I wish I had your confidence, " or a partner would comment on how they found my outward confidence attractive. When inside. I can say that I never really felt that confident, not just in pursuit of the opposite s*x but in most aspects of my life, including self-defence and self-development.

When I think of all the scenarios that test my confidence, it comes down to me making a decision taking a chance, and wanting a positive outcome even though I may have feelings of uncertainty about the results.

I can think of times when I may have lacked confidence, but I took action anyway or, in some cases, didn't take action and kicked myself for not doing so. Now when things don't go well, instead of having this feeling of once bitten twice shy overcome me, I rely now on the tools I have used to build a positive mindset and see each defeat as a lesson to come over and be more prepared for the next time. I can pick myself back up if I fail; Stoicism has been a key in developing this dynamic mindset.

"In every moment, we are either building our confidence or chipping away at it. The choice is yours."
― Heather Monahan,

I want you all to be doing the work so that when your confidence is called upon, you will have a sense of preparedness and be able to rely on all your training, having done the reps.

When you are confident, you feel things will go well, and when you are short on confidence, you are worried that it might not. It is that simple. So grow your intended trust in yourself and rise to any occasion.

Dynamic Chad

Something to think about while training:

"Deliberate practice refers to a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic. While regular practice might include mindless repetitions, deliberate practice requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improving performance" - James Clear (Atomic Habits)

Last Monday, the above quote appeared in the Kali Arnis group chat from our instructor Blake Keselar at MARA (Martial Arts Research Academy); it is taken from Atomic Habits by James Clear (if you have not had any contact with this book, I recommend you do so immediately)

Later that night, once training was completed, our instructor followed up on the quote by asking how many of us had understood it and applied it in class for ownership. Unfortunately, most of us had failed, and our instructor gave the class feedback, sighting that we all just went through the motions (mindless practice) without real thought or intention for what we were doing. As a result, lazy footwork, bad targeting and unrealistic blocks became the norm and required more focused attention.

It got me thinking about how often do commit acts of mindless practice. And not just in Kali but in all aspects of my self-defence and self-development. How often do I listen to mindset/Stoic podcasts or read material without absorbing it? Atomic Habits is a book I have read and immediately began adopting information to be better.

I train self-defence for a specific purpose and live and work in an environment where I have been called upon to use my skill sets, so when I train in any art or even lift weights, I know I want to make these training session count as repetition is the key to success. Still, repetition of bad habits can lead to disaster, not just in a confrontation but in resistance training also can have adverse effects on your body if you lift the wrong way over and over; along with your diet, the mindless overconsumption of the wrong thing over and over. In addition, it will affect your physical and mental health regarding what you read, watch, and listen to.

Make sure all you do and practice is purposeful and systematic.

Dynamic Chad

Do What You Can Whilst You Can

This week I talked to two very close friends, and both expressed deep concern over how their bodies had begun to fail them. It was easy for me to highlight where in their past they made decisions that have led to their painful present, but that doesn't change the pain they are now in and may be in till death. It got me thinking about how I must celebrate my body while I can. I am no stranger to over-indulgence on the couch or saying f**k it and doing what is not very good for me. But, like a reformed smoker, I am now critical of others who have not gotten on board the self-defence, self-development Dynamic Life Sytems I find myself trying to embody.

A limited time is fixed for all of us, and we must use that time to improve ourselves so we may help improve the world around us.

Think of all the times you said I will get this done today or I will begin this tomorrow etc. Let me tell you now that you are running out of time; trust me, things get more difficult the older you get. I cross off a day in my monthly calendar each day, and it shocks me to see how quickly the black dots fill the month. And it annoys me to think about all the projects I have left non-completed or the days wasted.

At Dynamic Life Systems, we are about self-defence and self-improvement. So I write to inspire you; the above quote from Marcus and the conversation I had only highlighted how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to make the most of what I have. I ask myself all the time is this how you want to live? Is this how you want to look, be, feel and act? Is this how you want to die? The answer I give myself to the questions is what motivates me to take action; the rest is discipline and routine.

Get in alignment with nature, specifically with your nature and be as a human being is meant to be and celebrate your body and mind's abilities; get active in both and nurture the spirit.

Get hold of your chaotic mind and temperance yourself; employ good habits and routines in your daily life because it is either hard now or very hard later.

Dynamic Chad

Consistency Vs Frequency

Whether you are starting your dynamic living journey and evolving your self-improvement thru self-defence or you are already a sold practioner but aren't quite nailing the outcomes you want. Let me open your mind to this idea of how you don't frequently do things that bring on self-development and self-defence; you need to do them consistently.

You must have heard of the compound effect, the idea that little things are done consistently and big things grow.

Well, s**t, Chad, if that's the case and my goals are to lose weight, gain muscle, read more, and learn martial arts, then I ought to be showing up and doing these things frequently, right? Well, no, you see, I, this year, decided to up my training days to seven days, two martial arts and five resistance training. Unfortunately, this frequency level is hard for me, and my work-life responsibilities balance due to my inability to do these things at the frequency I intended; I feel let down and s**t, and this can lead me to give up, but I won't be.

The enemy of my consistency is the frequency I set for myself because I try to stay consistent with expectations that are too high. Ultimately being consistent is identifying the amount of something that serves you and following through on that amount.

Frequency is the amount you do something means multiple being frequent means you get into action often, almost repeatedly. Consistency does not require frequency, and frequency does not require consistency.

Your self-development and self-defence routine should be constant but not necessarily every day; you can do it twice a week if that is the timetable you wish to aim for; just keep it from becoming frequent so that you don't show up for yourself. Be intentional with your consistency and strike the balance that best suits your needs and as a result, you become strengthened by consistency in all areas of your life.

Dynamic Chad