I mentioned Naruto before and talked about how the "way of the ninja" can aid in helping one to achieve goals, build power, and get up after a bad fight. The story also gives some examples of people who have allowed their "way of the ninja" to take over their lives to the point where it becomes more of a cancer eating away at them than anything helpful.
One character based his "way of the ninja" on the idea that he was the last of his clan. In and of itself, this isn't so bad, but his focus is in the wrong place. Instead of becoming stronger and attracting lovers and allies so he can rebuild what was lost, he spends his life trying to kill the people who destroyed his clan. His Will is strong, but, as it is unchecked, it will probably lead to his demise.
As I have mentioned before, being driven by a strong Will can be quite beneficial. Your strong Will can help you move past all barriers. It can heal you. It can aid in your altering the way you think. It can make you get up, over and over again, no matter what kind of pain or horror you are facing. In that way, a strong Will is an amazing thing.
A strong Will can also cause you lots of problems. I think the major example I see of this is on skill based reality shows. Quite often we watch as people lose the contest because they "won't compromise who they are and want to just be themselves and won't change for anyone." Okay. That's awesome for you.
However . . . you knew going in this was a contest where you would be asked to compete under certain conditions, many of which would come off as stupid in the grand context of things. But at the end of the game, you still had a very large prize waiting for you. So . . . either you could play along and possibly win or . . . well, lose. It's all well and good to just "be yourself," but never assume that's going to get you very far when judges are involved. As much as you dream of a world where all the rules alter just for you . . . . yeah, they're not going to.
A strong Will, when not tempered with reason, focus, and self-reflection, will prove to be your undoing. An unchecked Will is like driving a car at full speed. Sure, you may think are in control. Yes, there is a lot of power at your command . . . however, you may not be able to react in time to handle whatever going a such speeds is going to throw in your path.
I have a real life example that furthers the metaphor. I have a Mazda 323 that is being held together with wire, duct tape, dirt, and prayers. It's name is Rabbit Killer . . . for obvious reasons. Anyway, one time the battery died. Okay, many many times the battery has died, but this one time, I was alone at the house and needed to move the car so my brother could get close enough to jump it.
I put the car in neutral and started to push it. It moved quite easily . . . and soon, because I was on a slight downward incline, it was almost across the street in the ditch. I had to run, throw open the door, and try to stop it. I almost didn't.
If you consider me as the force of Will and the car as my life, you will see two things. One, Will is astounding it its abilities to be used to help us meet our goals. Two, if you only apply Will and nothing else . . . well, you end up in the ditch.
Now, do not think for a moment I am implying, other than in the situations I described in the last post, that you should live a life of weak Will. I think you should flex you Will and make it as strong as possible. At the same time, you should attach things to it to make sure it goes in the direction and speed you wish. Reason, focus, self-reflection, logic, a strong dose of reality, and moments of clarity will get you very far.
And not into a ditch.
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