During the first episode of the 100 Day Warrior (in Sept 2014) I asked a handful of people from the creative industry to send me questions that they would like to be answered by the participants of the 100 Day Warrior. Out of approximately 30 questions I selected 13 that seem to cover most of the curiosity of most followers. Martijn is the second of the 100 Day Warrior III to answer them. Before him went Suzanne (read her answers here). By the way, above you can see Martijn in a very nicely shot video, check it out. And Martijn’s Warrior sister Noeska can be seen here.
1. What were your expectations from the 100 Day Warrior? And have they been met?
I expected insight, clarification, reason and a tool with which to work on myself. These kind of results are similar to those I have previously gained from meaningful conversations with friends. We talk about love, work, family and all else. What I gained from the program however was something more. I gained access to my feelings. For the first time in my life I stepped away from my reasoning when looking for answers. Instead I now allow emotions to guide me. This is so completely new for me that I was not able to expect it, since I have never felt this way before.
2. How does the 100 Day Warrior affect you?
Due to the program I now see myself in full. I see the defense mechanisms I have created over the years to cope with difficulties. I see how I have blocked my heart from love out of fear of being hurt. This insight has allowed me to feel and for the first time in my life, I am now in love with someone.
3. How long before you started experiencing results?
For me the results were mostly spiritual and not in body and health since I have always been training a lot and eating healthy. Three weeks into the program I started realizing this was something special and that it might bring me things I had not anticipated. It started out with small realizations about the way I lead my life. For instance I realized how often my mind wanders and how often I am not really into the moment. This made me realize that I am comparing experiences all the time and when something is not very thrilling, I either think back or plan ahead. This has two negative effects. First of all I am oblivious to the beauty of the little things that surround me. And second it makes only the utmost fun, exciting, challenging, grieving or fearful situations worth noticing. Making me needing ever more extreme forms of distraction
4. What was your biggest misconception of the 100 Day Warrior?
That it would produce results in the line of reasoning. That I could have reached the same results by reading a theoretical book or having philosophical discussions.
5. What impressed you most so far?
The feelings!!! They are scary and beautiful at the same time!
6. What was most challenging, scary or demanding?
The most challenging is to fully commit to a regime wherein you meditate every day. To really be able to choose for yourself in a way that is confronting and not gentle at all. However even though it is demanding and scary in some ways to see and let go of old habits that have formed over years and years. It is also liberating and wonderful at the same time.
7. What is your biggest revelation until now?
The fact that however different we all are and however different our background is, we all struggle with the same kind of symptoms. We all feel fear, anger, regret, or something. This creates a great bond of kinship with my fellow warriors. Because although they have very different lives and sometimes have issues I myself would not be having, we all have similar coping mechanisms whereby some part of our persona is neglected or ignored.
8. Which part of the 100 Day Warrior program would you rather have started 10 years ago?
I am not sure I was ready for this ten years ago, so for me this came at the right time in my life. The openness that is needed to accept the teachings and allow the contact with my own self is something I have developed over the years.
9. How does the 100 Day Warrior serve you in daily life and work?
In my daily life I feel more compassion towards others that are negative in their behavior. It is easy to feel for people who are nice. But it is harder to forgive people who are difficult and not easy to be with. I now see how they also have their own struggles. I try to forgive them and not to exclude them from my kindness.
10. Does the 100 Day Warrior have an impact on the way you relate to your life?
Massively! I feel connected to everyone else. I feel a binding energy in all of us and I think that employing loving kindness will bring everyone towards a greater good. This might sound a bit goofy and although I cannot explain it rationally, I think it is a very safe bet to have kindness as a guide to how to life my live. I mean even if I am wrong and we are not all connected and there is no continuous sharing and exchanging of energy then still I have been kind and loving.
11. What do you expect from the 100 Day Warrior in the long run?
I expect to have gained a permanent access to my feeling part. More stability and connection with my true self and others surrounding me.
12. What does the term ‘warrior’ mean to you?
A warrior sees the challenges ahead, acknowledges these and pursues his goals despite his fears.
13. What is your wish for the future?
I wish for everyone the opportunity to benefit from the teachings of this course so all of us can discover how our own personalities function (and sometimes malfunction). Consecutively, through meditation and other techniques people would receive the tools to ‘realign’ some of the less constructive mental mechanisms that cause their suffering. Then the world would be a much better place.
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Martijn Koch (32) is a smart and kind-hearted giant, a talented MMA fighter who carries academic degrees in Biology and Criminology. Deep down he wants to be a writer. Currently he works as a Project Leader at the Ministry of Social Affairs and teaches grappling after office hours. . If you want to connect with this strong but compassionate man, click here.
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