There are many words that I’ve used to describe the ideal of what a man could be, a renaissance man, the warrior poet, a man who embraces his duality, and much more. Before we any further I want to talk about what the basis of all of this is and what it means to be a renaissance man or a warrior poet as definitions are the basis of understanding. So let’s start with this. What is a warrior poet or renaissance man?
First off understand that you shouldn’t take this too literally I don’t just mean a man that can fight and write, even though are certainly two parts of becoming the renaissance man or warrior poet. Two words the describe the same thing. Rather I mean a man that is not only balanced, which is half the battle, but also well developed. A man that has examined himself and through challenge, suffering, preservation and the cultivation of wisdom, strength, and true goodness has shored up his weaknesses and become a “complete man”.
Now the fact is we’re never complete. From the first day of our life to the last we’re in a state of flux. We’re either becoming more or becoming less, but we’re not staying the same. So we must work from day one to the last to become more, become better. This doesn’t mean we never relax or enjoy life, far from it. There are plenty of times for both.
As it says there is a time for work and a time for rest. But we know that we are always a work in progress and that’s a great and beautiful thing. We can always become more and that’s great because otherwise we’d go crazy. But let’s get a little deeper into this definition of the warrior poet or renaissance man.
The Duality Of Man
Man is not one single thing, in reality man is made of thousands of different things if not more, depending on how you want to look at it. Man is both animal and higher than the animals, he is both rational creature and brute beast, he is both barbarian and civilized, he is both warrior and poet. The problem that the majority of males make is that they embrace one half of this nature but not the other.
They might even hate the other. On a shallow term we can see this in the nerd/jock dichotomy. Why is it that a man must develop his body or his mind but not both? Do you walk with one foot but not the other? Do you exhale but not inhale? One of the biggest problems is that men don’t develop this duality. They embrace one side and not the other. And the result is they look like a man who trains one half of his body but not the other.
He’s unbalanced and will never function to his full capacity. The biggest step to becoming a warrior poet, a renaissance man is embracing this duality. Developing both parts of yourself and your nature. Not leaving any part of yourself or your development physically, mentally, or spiritually undeveloped. Being strong from all sides. Embracing the brute and knowing it’s a gift and embracing the higher aspect and knowing it is also a gift.
Man was created this way for a reason and it’d be a tragedy if you remained stuck in only half your nature.
Becoming A Renaissance Man
There are only a few things you should specialize in, in life. In general you should be a generalist. Specialize in your work and in a hobby that fires you up but otherwise shore up weaknesses in all areas. Learn a little bit of this and that and don’t leave any weak areas. As Heinlein said specialization is for insects. Choose one or two things you want to do at a high level but the rest get to “above average” and you’ll do well in life. For example say you detest physical exercise that’s fine. I’m not saying to become a warrior poet or renaissance man you have to become a body builder or MMA fighter.
But don’t let yourself get overweight or underweight. Maintain a healthy and strong body weight through hiking, swimming, or something that you find you can stand. Same maybe you hate reading with a passion. Okay, fine you don’t have to become a man who reads a book a week. But listen to audiobooks, force yourself to read a page before bed, try to get one book a month. You see what I’m saying? You’ll never be able to become an expert in all things nor should you.
Just shore up weaknesses. Maybe you hate speaking in public. Alright then sigh up for a speech class at a local community college or join Toastmasters or another group. You don’t have to become a speaker that’ll change the course of history but work to become just “above average”. Again you’re shoring up weaknesses.
The biggest benefit of this is that you’ll learn to challenge yourself and face your fears. You’ll learn to look at things that are hard and realize that they’re exactly what you need to do. Doing hard things is the basis of development and becoming more. Finding the weaknesses in yourself and instead of hiding from them, facing them head on and addressing them.
All the while still working to make your natural strengths even stronger.
The Basis Of The Warrior Poet
This is the foundation of the warrior poet. Find your weaknesses and address them, embrace your duality, develop yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually, and have a few things you’re far above average in, these will likely be your vocation and your passion. Then with the rest you’ll be “just” above average in. That’s the basis of what I’m getting at and it may seem simple but when applied to your life and carried out, the results of nothing short of life changing.
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-Charles Sledge
