The Forge

The purpose of this exercise is to set you on the path to becoming Sith, in a way in which you cannot lie to yourself.

Being Sith is not a navel gazing activity. It's a path of action. It's unnatural, and it should feel difficult.

A path that pits you against the universe, and a realisation that the strife you'll experience against the indifference of the universe, is the catalyst that build the strength you need to become who you truly are.

Conflict is a blessing, and the universe and ultimately yourself, is the obstacle.

Philosophy, for many years now, has turned into a mental activity.

It didn’t use to be.

Muslims make a pilgrimage, the poor often by camel for thousands of miles, even the rich pray five times a day and keep to a whole host of rules.

You should be no less devoted to your chosen path.

Now is the time to prove it.

You’ll declare war on something physical.

Why something physical? Because it means the armchair philosophers will have to wait by the door.

You will choose something difficult, because you need to experience failure on your road to victory. You need to accept that you are not as great as you think you are.

If you were, you wouldn't be here.

Instructions:

1. Choose Your War:

Select a physical challenge that you have never accomplished before. This must be something that will push you to your limits. It should be difficult, perhaps even seemingly impossible, but not out of reach. Examples include:

• Running a marathon.
• Lifting a certain weight that currently feels beyond your capacity (e.g., deadlifting 100kg).
• Training to fight in the ring.
• Completing a grueling obstacle course (e.g., Spartan Race).

2. Set Your Milestone:

Define a clear and specific milestone for your challenge. This milestone will be your first battlefield, where you are likely to encounter your first real failure. It’s crucial that this milestone is measurable and time-bound, such as:

• Run 10 kilometers within the next month.
• Increase your bench press by 20% in six weeks.
• Practice and master a specific martial arts technique within two months.

3. Document Your Journey:

Keep a detailed record of your progress. This record should include:

• Daily or weekly logs of your training efforts.
• Reflections on the mental and physical challenges you face.
• Notes on any failures or setbacks, and how these fuel your passion to continue.

Do not lie to yourself with this. Failure in this is much more useful than "knowing" you "could" do it. Try it. Fail. Try again.