Historian and novelist Steven Pressfield chronicles the life of Alexander the Great in his riveting The Virtues of War. Alexander followed in the footsteps of his father Philip as the ruler of the ancient Greek country Macedon. Father and son are considered 2 of the greatest military leaders in history; son absorbed the lessons of father and went beyond the elder’s legendary achievements. Alexander’s reputation as an attacking warrior and inspiring leader are unsurpassed. As an example, he ascended to the throne at age 20 and by age 25 his forces conquered the mighty Persian Empire.
Alexander attributes the success of any soldier to the presence of “dynamis,” defined as “the inherent power within a warrior that animates his life force and provides a vast, bountiful and inexhaustible will to fight, endure, and conquer.” Alexander states that each soldier must fight, not against a human foe, but against an unseen enemy called fear. Dynamis is the capacity each warrior has to combat fear, and father Philip saw it in abundance in the young Alexander, who fought in his first battle at age 12.
Alexander sought ways to reveal, develop, hone and enhance the great dynamis present in each of his soldiers. He viewed the battlefield as a mere outward manifestation and revealer of the bountiful dynamis within each soldier. Combat provided the spark that released the power within.
A great young man of today need not become a soldier in order to exhibit dynamis. Daily life, in particular using the playing field of a sport, is a safe, acceptable, and capable way to reveal your dynamis within. Use dynamis to fight fear, and maybe your name will include the descriptor “great,” like Alexander.
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
Alexander attributes the success of any soldier to the presence of “dynamis,” defined as “the inherent power within a warrior that animates his life force and provides a vast, bountiful and inexhaustible will to fight, endure, and conquer.” Alexander states that each soldier must fight, not against a human foe, but against an unseen enemy called fear. Dynamis is the capacity each warrior has to combat fear, and father Philip saw it in abundance in the young Alexander, who fought in his first battle at age 12.
Alexander sought ways to reveal, develop, hone and enhance the great dynamis present in each of his soldiers. He viewed the battlefield as a mere outward manifestation and revealer of the bountiful dynamis within each soldier. Combat provided the spark that released the power within.
A great young man of today need not become a soldier in order to exhibit dynamis. Daily life, in particular using the playing field of a sport, is a safe, acceptable, and capable way to reveal your dynamis within. Use dynamis to fight fear, and maybe your name will include the descriptor “great,” like Alexander.
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
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