During the first episode of the 100 Day Warrior 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. Rik is the third of the 100 Day warrior II to answer them.
1. What were your expectations from the 100 Day Warrior? And have they been met?
I was looking for a way to create a better balance between body and mind because I felt a need for more energy in daily life. I had enough of feeling completely exhausted after 12 or 13 work weeks, when I would go on vacation with my wife and children. I wanted the 100 Day Warrior to give me tools to create lasting wholesome habits.
2. And have they been met?
Yes. My first vacation with my family after the 100 Day Warrior was an eye opener. Instead of feeling depleted of energy I felt radiant and excited to spend time with my wife and kids.
3.How does the 100 Day Warrior affect you? How long before you started experiencing results?
I was injured when I started the program so it took a couple of weeks before I felt ‘on track’. Physically I have made a lot of progress. I am A LOT fitter than I was before! I eat a lot healthier. I know how to create a sense of inner peace by working with my breath. I am have more energy and I am less pushy: I feel more patience and compassion and give other people more space.
4. What was your biggest misconception of the 100 Day Warrior?
I don’t think I had a misconception. A colleague of mine had participated in the first edition of the 100 Day Warrior and she had given me a pretty clear idea of what to expect.
5. What were the 3 most impressive insights you received from the 100 Day Warrior?
1. Realizing that nutrition has such an enormous impact on the way you feel and on performance. Proper nutrition gives energy, strength, concentration, it influences our mood and therefore influences all our interactions. I have become aware of how much we numb ourselves by drinking coffee and alcohol, for example. I also have experienced the huge physical impact of a healthy, well-balanced breakfast on my performance during workouts. Never before that I fully realized how big the impact of nutrition was on our bodies and minds.
2. Realizing that just by spending a day quietly and with focus on my breathing I got closer to myself, I became aware of feelings and patterns that were hidden from me. All of a sudden it became easy to see my current obstacles and the impact of certain things of the past and expressing these things felt natural, as if I could let things flow.
3. Realizing the impact of professionally guided physical exercise: there is a lot of hidden potential in the body and there is a lot to be discovered. I never realized how important flexibility and mobility were. With a flexible, loose and strong body you feel better equipped to deal with life.
6. What was most challenging, scary or demanding?
I still struggle to commit to the discipline of meditation, but I realize that it can greatly benefit me in the long term. Jumping out of an airplane, as we did on day 93, was also pretty counter-intuitive.
7. What is your biggest revelation until now?
How much I can achieve in only 100 days when I receive the help of skilled trainers, an well-designed holistic program and some self-inflicted peer pressure by telling all my friends that I would do this.
8. Which part of the 100 Day Warrior program would you rather have started 10 years ago?
Personal Training
9. How does the 100 Day Warrior serve you in daily life and work?
I am a lot fitter now, I have more energy and I have learned how to maintain my energy level because I understand the impact of nutrition, strength training and meditation. I am more aware of the little things that are important in life. This translates to my family life and my professional life: I feel more rested, more patient, less judgmental and less pushy. I can let go of things that I previously tried to control.
10. Does the 100 Day Warrior have an impact on the way you relate to your life?
Yes, I feel different and have realized that we can have a lot of influence on how we feel. My ego has less power over me. I am more willing to face life, even when it is confrontational. I have developed more courage be honest and open, even in difficult situations. I have learned to listen better to others instead of doing things my way without asking.
11. How did your environment respond?
I was touched by the support I received. A lot of people showed interest in what I was doing and people were fascinated. For my wife it was quite a surprise that all of a sudden I showed interest in cooking and started to prepare my own food. My children must have noticed that I have become more patient because I hardly get angry anymore. Can’t remember the last time that happened.
12. What does the term ‘warrior’ mean to you?
A Warrior is brave man or woman who leads by example, with courage and integrity. S/he faces his or her fears, is not selfish and get things done.
13. What is your wish for the future?
It would be a beautiful thing if the warrior philosophy and life-style would spread through society. It would be nice if we have more brave, compassionate and fit people amongst us.
***
Rik Ruts (48) is Managing Director at Universal Media, Member of the Inspirational Board at Dance4Life and a passionate golf player. He thoroughly enjoys competition and he likes to win. In the picture above he is the guy on the right. Rik is a boss and he has a video to prove it.
Leave a Reply