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. Joost is the 7th of the 100 Day Warrior IV to answer them. Want to know what the others said too? Before Joost went Carolien, Nina, Bo and Douwe, and Suzanne who joined a previous edition and shot the beautiful portrait above. But now please read about Joost’s experience:
1. What were your expectations from the 100 Day Warrior? And have they been met?
There weren’t too many expectations, as I decided to jump in last-minute. It started out as an unknown adventure. I have had some experience with focusing on the main elements of of the course (nutrition, exercise and meditation) in isolation, and was curious to experience the three all at the same time. I thus expected an interesting journey that would give me a peek into myself. I imagined the course would uncover insights about my behaviour, patterns and underlying convictions. I also expected that the course would make me more productive and would help me to become more conscious.
Yes, it has certainly been a revealing journey. I have learned to listen to what is alive inside me and to honor my feelings (so now and then). I have also realized that my desire to be productive is a strong pattern which should be complemented by breaks to retain a flexible and inspired body and mind.
2. How does the 100 Day Warrior affect you?
I have experienced once again that nutrition, exercise and meditation are vital to wellbeing. They are the preconditions for a healthy and happy life. Intensive exercise helps me to break through potential tensions build up during the day. Meditation makes the mind more quite, provides perspective, makes me realize what is important to me and helps me to make decisions intuitively. Once they have been met I am more open to other people and to ‘stuff’ that lives inside me that requires attention. It has made me realize that I push away aspects of live that I dislike (hurtful feeling, unmet expectations, that kind of stuff).
3. How long before you started experiencing results?
Three weeks. The first weeks I was somewhat overwhelmed with the 21-day reset, where we had to change our eating habits. Once I had figured out how to deal with the kitchen related challenges my eyes opened up to the other aspects of the course and I started noticing changes in the way I interacted with people, work and my relationship with my girlfriend.
4. What was your biggest misconception of the 100 Day Warrior?
That showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. Somehow this belief was ingrained in my mind but turns out the opposite is true. I also thought that the 100 Day Warrior would be similar to running a marathon where you focus on the finish line and once you have crossed it you have succeeded. But it is not about the end result; every step of the process is valuable. Each week’s focus is on a certain theme related to Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero’s Journey’ (e.g. Overcoming Obstacles, Rebirth, New Vision etc.). It helps to dive into your our personality and helped me to experiment with vulnerability, sensitivity and other character traits I’d normally cover up.
5. What impressed you most so far?
The realization that you are in charge of your own life. Always. I tend(ed) to relate inconveniences to outside world influences. The 100 program has given me tools to relates these inconveniences to my own circles of influence and control. Or not, and in that case to let it go.
The group process has also opened my eyes. When someone opens up and others respond without judging, an enhanced form of trust can arise. Openness is disarming and brings relief, strength and inspiration.
On a practical level, 100 days without alcohol has had some impact on my social life at the time, but simultaneously showed me the ease with which I unconsciously grab a (significant) number of beers. Also, preparing a nutritious meal for yourself is truly satisfying.
6. What was most challenging, scary or demanding?
The scariest thing was to comply with the mandatory ‘courageous conversation’. Somewhere in the second half of the program we were supposed to approach people we knew we hurt or mistreated and take responsibility for our actions. To be that vulnerable in the ‘real world’ was scary.
7. What is your biggest revelation until now?
That expressing what is going on inside me brings peace. Being honest doesn’t lead to confrontation but leads to understanding and connection.
8. Which part of the 100 Day Warrior program would you rather have started 10 years ago?
Nothing. This was the right moment for me. Ten years ago I wasn’t ready for this.
9. How does the 100 Day Warrior serve you in daily life and work?
I am calmer inside and when I am not I now know which measures to take to become calmer and more aware of what is happening. I try to live more by my intuition and express more of what I observe inside and outside myself. Simultaneously, there still remains a feeling of not having, experiencing or doing enough, which on the one hand is magnified by the 100 day program (since it provided me with more perspective and knowledge of life) and on the other hand is more integrated in the sense of being fine with that.
10. Does the 100 Day Warrior have an impact on the way you relate to your life?
It feels as if I am more in charge of my own life. I have realized that I have a unique direction in life and that it is up to me to find out where I should go, and not let others or society’s expectations decide for me. The direction I chose now; developing a plan for my parent’s farm and working with Aimforthemoon, the social relationships that I build up, feel more like a means in itself than a means to an end. That provides a lot of peace within.
11. What do you expect from the 100 Day Warrior in the long run?
That I will continue to develop and grow as a human being and that this path will bring many interesting experiences in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
12. What does the term ‘warrior’ mean to you?
A Warrior is someone with confidence, faith in the people and world that surrounds him, sincerity, willpower and strength to devote energy to making a positive contribution to the world and people around him.
13. What is your wish for the future?
My wish is to develop myself, to help others and to contribute to a more sustainable society and.. to have a lot of fun in the process!
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Joost van Schie (30) is a young and promising entrepreneur. He combines a very hands-on and goal-oriented approach with intelligence, humour and a passion for nature and sustainability. Currently he is part of Aimforthemoon, a community of young entrepreneurs that support each other and larger corporations to build ventures of the future. As a matter of fact Joost has been of great help adding a but of business sense to Basic Goodness. Connect with him on LinkedIn and you will be pleasantly surprised by his energy.
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