WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE YOURSELF A MOHAWK

I just finished shaving my head, giving myself another Mohawk.  As a man in his mid 30’s you would think I’d be hesitant to do such a thing.  Hahaha, but, I am not.

Sure, there is always some angst in those initial moments just before I fire up the clippers.  But, once the blades touch down on my scalp and get to work, my determination to follow through always grows.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Should I get a Mohawk?” Then you’ve probably experienced that initial angst too.

It’s an angst that stems from your wondering about what people are going to say.  It’s an angst that stems from you being keenly aware that most people just don’t have a clue about what a Mohawk actually says about you.

But after this post, you’ll have the answer…and you’ll know….

MOHAWKS ROCK!

It’s no secret that we live in a society that encourages conformity.  We all understand that “they” subtly approve all that you do, so long as what you do is done in a way that is cozy, comfortable, and familiar. 

Ahh, yes, what we do must always be familiar, so as to not offend the sensibilities of the majority.  We all know this, its our tacit little agreement with society.

Considering such a social contract, I’ve come to fully embrace the spiritual meaning of the mohawk hairstyle, as well as the idea of boldly wearing a Mohawk much like the punk-rocker.

But don’t get me wrong, I am no punk and I am no rocker.  I am not some guy rebelling against the establishment or the mainstream.  Yet, now more than ever, I can appreciate the sentiment of the mohawked punk-rocker of the past.  Their expressive individualism and their wish to wake us up from our collective walking slumber is something to be admired.

But that’s not what my Mohawk is for.   No, I have a different reason for wearing my Mohawk.  I wear a Mohawk because I am a man at war.  But this war is a different kind of war, so here me out.

WARRIOR ETHOS

A long time ago, there was a group of Native Americans known as the Mohawk people.  These people were a tribe of Native Americans who guarded the Iroquois Confederacy from all threats that attempted to invade their nation from the East.  They were essentially the guardians of the East.

Now, before these brave Mohawk peoples would tangle with any invading forces, they would remove portions of their hair from the sides of their heads.  As a result, a middle strip of hair would be left on the top of their heads, a strip of hair that would come to be known as the Mohawk.

These Mohawk people were traders, farmers, as well as brave guardians.  But when they donned the hairstyle that has come to be known as the Mohawk, they became warriors.

As warriors, they would use this hairstyle to create an effect used to intimidate the enemy, much like the plumes found on a Spartan helmet.

The Mohawk plume was a silent, but intimidating battle cry.  It was a symbol and a statement of fearlessness, of steadfastness, and a willingness to confront and clash with any enemy audacious enough to put up a challenge.

The Mohawk is a symbol of the warrior ethos, and wearing it has become a ritual that both inspires courage and signals a warriors commitment to victory.  It’s a symbol to be feared and respected.

And so that’s why I am sporting this Mohawk my friend.

I’ve given myself this nice little strip of fire because I am at war, but it’s not your typical war.  No, this war is a war a with a very real and a very personal enemy.  An enemy that I wish to strike fear into, an enemy I wish to brutally defeat every single day.

THE BATTLEGROUND

As an artist, entrepreneur, and creator of my own future I have a dreaded enemy.   It is not an external enemy or a physical enemy, although I take precautions to ensure I am prepared for those kinds too.  No, the enemy I speak of is an enemy that you are likely familiar with as well.   It’s an enemy that many have experienced and battled with daily, just like I do.

Oddly, this enemy comes in various forms.  The prick is a shapeshifter.

On some days, this enemy shows up as procrastination or a lack of motivation.   On other days, it shows up as a gravitational tug towards comfort, ease, and a wish to just “take it easy” like so many others do.  But most of all, this enemy appears as doubt and discouragement.  That’s right, my biggest enemy, perhaps I should say our biggest enemy, is doubt.

Most people, every day of their lives, doubt themselves.  They live in doubt. They doubt their abilities and their potential.  They doubt whether they should attempt to live the life they’ve always imagined, they doubt whether they should continue to chase their calling, and worst of all, they doubt whether they should even attempt to be who they truly are…. themselves.

Indeed, one of the hardest things for people to do, is to be themselves.

Our biggest internal battles take place when a decision must be made to overcome that small negative voice that says…

“You’ll Never Make It”

“You Can’t”

“You Shouldn’t”

“Don’t Do It”

“Maybe Tomorrow”

“Just Give Up”

When you listen to this voice, when you let it win, you become a victim, not a victor.  Which means, taking the sword or better yet…the tomahawk to the voice that would have you do the opposite of what you truly want for your life, is your biggest priority.

Yes my friend, these are a few of my challenges, my obstacles, my foes.  They are my inner enemies, but every time I give myself another Mohawk, it’s a re-declaration of war.  Sayonara Suckas!!

It’s an effective ritual that can help you guard your mind against those small voices that would have you play small with your life.

YOU ARE A WARRIOR

Now here’s the thing, if you have the ability to create, you have the seeds of an artist within you, and every artist is a warrior.  What this means, is you don’t necessarily need a Mohawk to go after the limitations you’ve set up against yourself.  That’s right, you don’t need a Mohawk to fight your inner enemies.

However, giving yourself a Mohawk is a powerful ritual.  It’s a ritual that can help set the stage for some massive self-improvement and big victories over yourself.

But don’t just take my word for it.

If you’re an artist, and entrepreneur, or anyone who is ready to take responsibility for the creation of their own lives, and look great while doing it, well, you know what to do…

Give yourself a Mohawk, at least once to initiate your own silent battle cry.

Yes, that battle cry that will make it clear to your inner enemies…

“You better be afraid you little mutherfu****s, because today is the day you die.”

Till next time,

STRIVE