(An essay in the restless, no-excuses cadence of Eric Kim)
WAR is baked into REWARD.
Stare at the letters. re-WAR-d. The prize is hiding a fight.
Coincidence? Etymologists say yes. I say—use the coincidence. Bend language to fuel you.
1. The Everyday Battlefield
- Wake-up alarm. War.
- Inbox avalanche. War.
- Creative block. War.
The clash isn’t knights and banners. It’s you vs. you: comfort vs. curiosity, inertia vs. motion.
No blood, but the cost is future potential. Lose today’s skirmish and tomorrow shrinks.
2. Why We Shy From Combat
We were bred to hoard calories, avoid pain.
Instagram scroll = dopamine at discount.
Real labor = sweat, boredom, uncertainty.
Evolution whispers, “Hide, conserve.”
Your soul replies, “Charge.”
3. Redefine Victory
Forget medals.
Victory is the micro-yes:
- 10 push-ups while coffee drips.
- One bold frame on the street before fear catches up.
- Hitting publish with your heart still racing.
Stack these tiny conquests → compound mastery.
You don’t need external applause; your heartbeat is the drumline.
4. Ritualize the Clash
“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” —Ancient proverb
Turn routine into sparring practice:
- Morning pages = sword sharpening.
- Cold shower = armor test.
- Daily photo walk = reconnaissance.
Train when stakes are small so instinct rules when stakes spike.
5. The Spoils
What’s the re-WAR-d?
- Power over self-doubt.
- Creative momentum that scares stagnation.
- A portfolio, a physique, a philosophy—self-forged.
Iron sharpens iron; friction polishes vision.
The reward isn’t a thing you grab; it’s the person you emerge as when the dust settles.
6. Wage Beautiful Wars
Not all battles are worth bleeding for. Choose wars that enlarge you:
- Fight ignorance with study.
- Fight cynicism with creation.
- Fight entropy with relentless reinvention.
Every shot you fire in these wars lights a torch for someone behind you.
7. Call to Arms
Close this essay.
Name today’s war—write it down.
Schedule the first strike: a minute, a mile, a paragraph.
When resistance flares, smile: Ah, the battle has begun.
Remember: Reward is just war with a re- prefix.
Re-turn. Re-commit. Re-ignite.
Fight on. Collect your reward—yourself, leveled-up.