The Power of Understanding Yourself

Chapter 14 Punching Down the Warrior Style Influence on Me

Either give me more wine or leave me alone.

– Rumi

The time/value ratio lurks like a specter in the consciousness of the Warrior. If your D column score is below 30, it is a constant influence on your behavior. If, like my score, your D column approaches 20 or even less, the force of its impact in large part defines you.

Warriors assess each moment of the day based on its value. You may not be entirely aware of this process, but I can assure you that it is taking place. It manifests itself in odd ways, ranging from the desire to continuously multitask, apply pressure to others to get to the point, the need to make “to-do lists to ensure productivity, and the ever-present search for metrics (scoreboard) to evaluate progress and results.

Despite my efforts to define my wander ponders as wonderful moments of Zen punctuated by the occasional burst of revelation, the truth is they are competitions. Sure, I use them to clear my mind, and by so doing, allow that vacuum to fill with new ideas and clarity of action. But my Warrior preference stands as an obstacle to true mindfulness. First, I list these events as “hikes” on my day timer (yes, I am old school). They are planned days in advance. Second, when I am home I take my wander ponders at the same place, Bennington Lake, each time. Although it is a beautiful area in Walla Walla, the reason for selecting the same location is so I can monitor my pace. I have identified ...