Samurai and “the way of the warrior”
GRIT week 4 is focused on accountability. A simple definition of accountability is: The practice of taking responsibility for everything in your world. For our purposes, we are talking about taking EXTREME accountability towards becoming the greatest version of yourself. Consistently having the discipline of thought, emotion, and action, that are necessary to be becoming a leader. Someone striving for greatness each and every day. The type of person whose presence makes the people around them want to be better.
Our perspective of what discipline, accountability, and excellence looks like will ultimately dictate your ability to obtain greatness. To provide a heightened perspective, let’s look at the moral code of the Samurai Warriors of Japan.
Samurai were expected to live according to Bushido (“The Way of the Warrior”), a strict ethical code influenced by Confucianism that stressed loyalty to one’s master, respect for one’s superior, ethical behavior in all aspects of life and complete self-discipline. The way of the warrior and this conduct of self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior was to become the role model for all other classes throughout Japan’s history.
Through the ages, the samurai have been associated with honor, fearlessness, calm, decisive action, strategic thinking, and martial prowess.
There are seven core precepts of Bushido. The first principle “Rectitude” defines what the highest level of accountability looks like.
- Rectitude: “The power of deciding upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering.”
- Courage: “Doing what is right.”
- Benevolence: “Love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy and pity.”
- Civility: “Courtesy and urbanity of manners.”
- Sincerity: “The end and the beginning of all things.”
- Honor: “A vivid conscious of personal dignity and worth.”
- Loyalty: “Homage and fealty to a superior.”
Taking action. Taking extreme accountability. 24/7. 365. Without wavering.