You Say You Want Freedom. But Will You Do What It Takes To Get Freedom?

It’s 5am.

I rub my eyes.

I’m tired.

A piece of me wants to go back to bed.

But I know this moment, this choice, this is the difference.

Sometimes I almost forget.

Forget that it is this very moment that I can move towards my dream… or away from it. But today I remember.

Thank you God.

So I wake up. I get out of bed. I write.

Maybe, someone will be inspired, motivated, encouraged to follow their dreams.

That chance – pushes me out of bed.

So I write.

At 630 a piece of me wants to fight it.

I feel tired, a little sore, I can do it the next day.

But once again I remember, today I either move toward my dream or away from it.

So I leave the house. I run, I sprint, I push my body to its limit. My pulse sky rockets.

Why?

I want to be a ninja.

Have you ever seeing a fat ninja?

I have to show up. Every. Single. Day.

It is More Than Just Following a Dream

Initially when I came to Japan I thought this was just about martial arts and some childhood desire.

It’s not.

It’s much more.

It is about freedom.

How cliché is that?

Freedom.

Don’t most people want freedom? The opportunity to do as we please, when we please, how we please…

Maybe. So?

Wanting isn’t enough.

Are most people willing to make sacrifices now to get what they want later?

Are you willing to make sacrifices now to get what you want later?

The Incredible Irony

I want two things:

  1. to become a Ninja and
  2. to create a movement to inspire and educate people to follow their dreams.

The wants are simple. The “how” is complex.

If I can do those two things that is my freedom.

The only way to make it happen is to give up my freedom.

In pursuit of freedom I give up my freedom…

I don’t have the freedom to sleep in, to let a few days slip by, to quit exercising, to stop writing, to stop learning.

Everyday I write, I train, I read, I learn. It’s not a choice…

Well, technically it is a choice. I could stop doing these things. But then I’ll never achieve my dream.

It is so simple. Yet so complex.

The only way to get freedom in the long-term is to give up freedom in the short-term.

Is it worth it?

For me, yes.

For you, I don’t know…

Will you give up freedom today to have freedom tomorrow?

  • nate schubick

    Great insight Izzy! Ive sloughed off lately in pursuit of my dream. I have even stopped excersizing last week….gasp! The keyboard is broken but yet i will write. The life that we want is a choice!

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Too true my brother! The life we want is a choice. It is scary but also awesome.

      It means if we aren’t living the life we want we are to blame but if are to live the life we want it’s on us.

      I hope you bust out 100 push ups just to get back in the groove :)

  • http://twitter.com/NakedBearBnB Naked Bear BnB

    Would love to train with you some day. I think we’d have a blast. 5 bells is my usual time to greet the day as well. You are an inspiration Izzy. Lets here it for freedom. 

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Mike the Crazy Parkour Man! (Soon, I’ll come up with a better name) 

      This is an offer I cannot refuse my friend. If I ever find myself near your neck of the woods we can wake up together at 5 and then go fight grizzly bears!

      Then after we can get a cup of coffee and discuss life.

  • http://www.devacoaching.com Sandi Amorim

    “In pursuit of freedom I give up my freedom…”
    Simple, not always easy but I love the clarity and power of this one statement! 

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      It is definitely not easy. But at this point the alternative just isn’t an option anymore.

      Thanks for dropping by Sandi.

  • http://twitter.com/jodymlamb Jody Lamb

    Izzy, Izzy, Izzy,

    If there was ever a day I needed to read something like this…

    Gosh! Thank you for this!

    I was awake until 2 am this morning, unable to sleep, thinking of all of the things I know I must do, all of the things I want to do. But a 2-am tired brain can be a powerful thing. I got overwhelmed and grumpy about it. Is all of this worth it? The lack of sleep. The no time for TV and other coach potato perks. The running in the heat. The writing. The revising. The dreaming. The planning.

    The answer? Yes, of course.

    I like this post a lot. Thanks for being honest that you, too, struggle with pushing yourself from time to time.

    P.S. I choked on my PB & J sandwich (which I eat at my desk, not in a bathroom stall like you!) when you asked, “Have you ever seen a fat ninja?” Hilarious.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Jody,

      I will tell you (from experience) that you are much better off continuing to eat your PB & J at your desk. A locked bathroom stall is far from an ideal place to eat food. So, I want to strongly encourage you to continue to eat at your desk… I just wanted to throw this out there in case you had been debating the issue as of late :)

      One of the things that scares me a lot about so much of the “Follow your dream” “Make your life great” content out there is that it doesn’t do a great job conveying how hard it can be to reach that point.

      The problem with this is that the second people hit a wall they think they are heading down the wrong path. But in fact they are heading down the right path.

      Well, at least this is what I think… Maybe I am actually mentall ill and just love pain (I hope this isn’t it).

      Always a pleasure to have you drop by Jody :)   

  • Vishnu

    Dr. Izzy,  What do I have to give up and is it worth it? Wow, bro – that’s some wisdom right there!

    Yeah, we give up a lot in writing, blogging, connecting but we have these long term goals so we do them – waking up at whatever time it takes. It’s a sacrifice all right but well worth it in the long run.

    Thanks for showing up everyday and making it happen. Showing up is not 90% of success as someone said – it’s closer to 99%!

    Let’s do this:) !

    p.s. great headline.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Vishnu my man!
       
      I like that “99% of success is showing up.”
       
      I might quote you in a future blog post. But don’t worry I will give you credit (maybe…).
       
      I completely agree. This is the exact reason I buy into the whole “follow your passion” movement so much. I do not have the discipline or focus to follow through on something with the appropriate level of committment unless I am passionate about it.
       
      I think that passion becomes the driving force that allows me to push through all the barriers. But the crazy thing is that in following my passion I enjoy the barriers as much as they frustrate me.
       
      Always enjoy your comments Vishnu. You always put a lot of thought into them… Or atleast it appears that way. JK JK JK!

  • http://www.frequentflosser.com/ Will

    Izzy,

    Great insights!  I’ve also thought of this before and have my own little saying as well regarding freedom.

    I’ve been in a slump recently and this post has reminded me to keep going.  It will definitely be worth it when we have reached our goals.  You’ve got to pay the price for freedom!

    Will

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Thanks Will,

      I hope you are able to bust through that slump. That slump means you are challenging and pushing yourself. That is a good thing. You seem like a pretty resilient person (based on our emails and your content).

      I hope you kick the crap out of the slump and find a way to fire yourself up and move forward.

      But I do have to say that my guess is that your slump is slightly akin to someone elses very best. 50 books in a year is no joke bro! And that was last year, now your going for 60 – that’s crazy!

  • Sean

    Inspiring words my friend.  Reminding me that sacrifice or investments today can create phenomenal rewards down the road was a great way to kick-off the day this morning.  I think it’s also critical to figure out what sacrifices will yield the best returns.

    Also, the video is awesome.  Your director of photography did an excellent job making it appear as though you were stricken with the hands of a giant.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Actually I ate some bad sushi and consequentially have had an allergic reaction where my hands have swollen up to massive sizes. But it is working out to my advantage because I am now able to carry substantially more things in my hands :)

      You bring up a great point Sean. It is super important to figure out which sacrifices can make the biggest difference. I can sacrifice everything in my life but that would just be stupid. There are specific things that each person must be willing to sacrifice if they want to take their life to the next level.

      Really awesome point you bring up my friend.

  • http://www.writingfromafar.com/ Tony

    Another inspirational article Izzy! A powerful Ninja punch to the nose, followed by a kick to the guts! Motivating! I love it! Now I shall drag my sorry arse up to my study to write! Thank you! :)

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Haha! Awesome Tony. I am glad that you felt compelled to write. Hopefully someday I can find a way to turn those ninja punch/kick combinations into a method to break some bricks :)  

      That would really get me excited.

  • Lindsey

    Yep. The days I sacrifice my sleep to get up at 4:30 am to exercise are far better days than days I sleep a little longer. Days off of work when I set my alarm anyways to exercise and accomplish a task list are more fullfilling.

    Having that “argument” with myself in the morning whether or not to get up can be difficult, so I try to just avoid the argument all together and give myself a quick reminder why I’m doing it.
    :)

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      I think that is an excellent decision Ms. Wehn. Tomorrow morning when I get up I will simply refuse to have an argument with myself :) . 

      I guess it all comes down to having a deeper purpose. If I am getting up early, writing, and training but I feel no sense of deeper purpose behind the actions than it makes it drastically harder to get up. But when there is a strong sense of purpose it becomes so much easier. 

      I must say that some of my favorite days are the ones that I get up really early and I don’t have to go to work. I get so much done! 

      I guess soon enough I will be living that day in and day out as soon as I am able to find a place to live in Kyoto :)

      Sidenote: You are super crazy style- 430 am is halfway thru the night for a lot of folks.Yes, I get up at 5am but 430 is WAY different. That is super crazy style – in a good way :)

      • Lindsey

        That’s cause I’m super crazy Izzy! I wake up at 430, work a 10 hour day, and then get in bed by 9. Oh and I walk my dog and pack a healthy lunch in there somewhere too. Doesn’t get much crazier and exciting than that!

        ( all while trying to achieve ‘epic shit’ every day). :)

        And I would agree, having purpose makes it so I am more likely to get up and not have that argument.

        • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

          I think you should start a club called “I get up at 430 am and do stuff”… The only problem is that I think it wil only include 1 member. But look on the bright side – you could be president of the group :)

          • http://www.heartinghandmade.com Maša

            LOL. I have a question for you early risers: how do you make certain to wake up? my sleep is so deep sometimes that I don’t even hear an alarm clock, especially after an exhausting day.

          • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

            Haha! I don’t have an answer on this one Masa :) . I think at this point it has just become habit. I never sleep through my alarm clock.

            I do make sure to get to bed between 9 and 10 pm. This makes it way easier to get up :) .

  • http://lucidability.com/ Jamie Alexander

    Yeah. That’s basically it. Everyone has to give up something to achieve something else. For me, freedom is one of those things. Once the day comes that I get unleashed upon the entire planet will be magnificent. I only hope to get over my fear of flying 30,000ft in the sky inside a metal tube.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Haha! Since you are come at it froma  lucid dreaming perspective your goals are really crazy!

      But my guess is that to reach a point where you become a true expert in lucid dreaming you will have to give up quite a bit.

      • http://lucidability.com/ Jamie Alexander

         I have a great idea for the future and I’m going to start saving up for it soon. I’m going to move to the holy city of Varanasi, India and learn meditation properly from a master. Then I’m going to meditate for 8 hrs per day and sleep (ld) as much as possible. In that 6 months I will take lots of notes to write my first proper book. That’s giving up 6 months of my life lol but it will be fun too.

        • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

          Jamie this is so freaking awesome! It is totally crazy, unique, and authentic. I am really interested to see how it all unfolds.

          If you do what you just wrote those 6 months will change your life. Crazy stuff man. Crazy in a good way :)

          • http://lucidability.com/ Jamie Alexander

             Thanks Izzy,

            I’m looking forward to it at some point next year.

          • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

            As am I my friend :) . 

  • http://www.breakingthehabitofme.com/ Breaking The Habit Of Me

    Hey Izzy,

    Another great post.

    I think the interpretation of freedom is where most go wrong. For me, most people don’t want true freedom, because that means you have to take 100% responsibility for your life. And let’s face it: that is a tough one. So if there is anything we have to sacrifice, it is the freedom to not be responsible (another paradox for you).

    Erich Fromm (who is someone I have enjoyed reading in the past) says:

    “Freedom is not a constant attribute which we either “have” or “have
    not.” In fact, there is no such thing as “freedom” except as a word and
    an abstract concept. There is only one reality: the act of
    freeing ourselves in the process of making choices. In this process the
    degree of our capacity to make choices varies with each act, with our
    practice of life.”

    Food for thought.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Keith,
      I have to ask you this question: do you read a lot? I feel like you leave some darn interesting comments.

      I read that quote like 4 times. The first time I was thinking “Is that English?” then the second time I decided “Yes, that is English”.

      I still only partially get it. But I think it is saying that true freedom is recognizing that we have the freedom to make choices in our lives. If we choose to do that than we are stepping into freedom. But Freedom isn’t an item we check off once and have completed it. Rather it is something that with every moment we have another opportunity to recognize or not.

      Wow man, that is some deep stuff you through out there brother. I dig it!

      I agree that a lot of people have a complete and total misperception of freedom. It doesn’t mean we get to sit on our couch and eat potato chips all day long.

      Always enjoy your comments man. It keeps my brain in “thinking mode”.

      • http://www.breakingthehabitofme.com/ Breaking The Habit Of Me

         Hey Izzy,

        Ashamed to say I don’t read anywhere near as much as I used to :(

        And I think you get it 100% :)

        Cheers

        • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

          Haha! Okay, good I am glad I interpreted it correctly. Well, some of that reading has clearly stuck with you because you pull out some pretty random quotes man. In a good way. 

  • http://www.modernmom.com/blogs/wendy-irene Wendy Irene

    Hi Izzy,

    I’ve been meaning to get over to your site and read your
    post sooner. This week is kind of crazy. I’m on the same page as you. I get up
    at 5am to work on my blog before my kids wake up. Currently, I’m on the Gunnar Challenge
    to keep track of my nutrition and exercise. It is a lot of work doing it all,
    but 100% worth it. I definitely have mornings, and days even when I don’t feel
    like making the sacrifices but when it comes down to it I’m not willing to give
    up. Sadly, the longer I do this the more people I see that don’t hang onto
    their dreams and keep going. The world needs you to inspire people to do just that!!

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Haha! I enjoyed your comment Wendy. I guess the difference maker in our lives are those moments when we don’t want to but we choose to anyways.

      When we have a deeper purpose behind our actions it still may be hard on somedays but that push is that deeper purpose that can keep us going.

      I know that if I want to do big things than I have to step up to the plate especially on those days when it hurts.

      Wendy thank you for your kind words.

      I think your commitment to your work is awesome. Keep on, keeping on :)

  • http://twitter.com/downfromtheledg down from the ledge

    “Are you willing to make sacrifices now to get what you want later?” For a long time  I answered, yes!!!!  But enough years went by when all I did was sacrifice.  One has to be careful that the future you THINK will be there after all your hard work does not destroy your present  (I say this as a recovering ‘all work, no play’ type).  There is a fine line between discipline and self-denial.  As for freedom: it can’t be boiled down to absolutes, as in doing whatever we please any time or the opposite.  

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      I got caught in the exact same game you are talking about. 

      When I was teaching in America a few years ago I would work all night and all day… But it was someone else’s dream I was following. 

      I don’t really know the perfect way to decipher the difference. I think if we are authentic and honest with ourselves we can take a direction in our lives that really fulfills us. The problem is that being “authentic and ourselves” is such a lame and cliche thing to say… But I believe it is the truth.
       
      I do think there are indicators as we move through the process. For me, although some days are a challenge over all I thoroughly enjoy the process and the challenges that come with it. This tells me I am heading down the right path. 

      A few years ago when I was teaching I stopped enjoying it. I was working for tomorrow, for the future. But I hated my present day. Which was probably an indicator that it wasn’t the right position.

      It is a really complicated question. How do we know what we genuinely want to follow? How can we be authentic? How do we know these are our own wants and not someone else’s? 

      In regards to freedom, I agree. There are no absolutes. @BreakingTheHabitOfMe:disqus Keith, brought up a really great quote in his comment that pointed out how freedom as a constant is completely false. 

      You bring up some really fascinating points Bri. I hope you keep on commenting cause you just gave my brain a crazy workout :) . 

      • http://twitter.com/downfromtheledg down from the ledge

        “How do we know these are our own wants?” Excellent question you ask.  Lately I am starting to feel like I have known all along what it is I am meant to do – that it has been thrown in my face over and over – and yet I didn’t really believe in it.  One can have many passions, but figuring out where they intersect with our unique abilities can lead us closer to the authenticity that will free us.

        • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

          “One can have many passions, but figuring out where they intersect with our unique abilities can lead us closer to the authenticity that will free us.” 
          I totally agree with this. I think one of the things that thwarts many people is that they don’t give themselves enough time with their passion. I have heard so many people say “I love doing blah blah, but I am not good at it. So I don’t do it.”

          I think as we move forward with our passion we can hone our skills. As we hone them new opportunities develop. But this takes time, perseverance, and a ton of inner strength. 

          For a while I was 100 percent in on the passion boat. I assumed if one followed their passion they would eventually make money. 

          Then I changed and agreed with Chris Guillbeau and decided we had to figure out where our passion meets value for others. Now, I believe that if we truly follow our passion with commitment and focus we will eventually stumble upon the value it can bring to others. 

          But as you have implied – It must be authentic. If it’s not authentic I don’t think it has a chance. 
          .

  • http://www.heartinghandmade.com Maša

    what do you mean that fat ninjas don’t exist? :(
    my answer is also YES! but I need to remind myself of this more often. :)

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Hahaha! When I wrote this post, I was totally thinking of Chris Farley too!. I was expecting for someone to bring it up in the comments but no one did… Until now. Awesome Masa :) .

      Everyday is a new opportunity to move towards the life you want to live :) .

      • http://www.heartinghandmade.com Maša

        haha, cool xD

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  • konstantinos

    Hello Izzy,

    I am 40 years old, used to teach airline studies from 23 to 30. I lost my job after 9/11 due to industry crash and joined the Force unwillingly, out of necessity to pay the bills. Suffering from depression ever since. I am thinking of quitting my job every single day for the last 10 years. I would really like to say “THANK YOU” for making me reconsider my life even after all those years. You teach by example and be sure you make a difference in peoples’ lives. I will be watching your progress and I will be in contact. I have one last word for you, R E S P E C T!!

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Konstantinos I am humbled by your kind words. Thank you for taking the time to say that.

      If you have any questions on pursuing your dreams or making the transition please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Though it may seem a little bit contradictory (at first glance) I’m not a huge advocate of “drop everything and follow the dream”. I am a huge advocate of putting the right plans in place, then making it happen!

      You can shoot me an email at izzy@30yearoldninja.com. I’d be happy to help in any way I can… Within reason :) .

  • tuneup03

    My old martial arts teacher once said, “Discipline is Freedom.” Having experienced false freedom and freedom through discipline… I can say the latter is always more real, more fulfilling, and more actual. I am in this process of transition and change myself and it feels great. Congratulations on your journey to seek and live your dream!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/MiltonKatie Katie Milton

    Thank you for this post. I have been struggling with focus and discipline lately and how those characteristics relate to my goals. Your post has helped to solidify my conviction. Cheers!