How to Rebuild When Life Breaks You

5 Warrior Lessons from Miyamoto Musashi

The Day the Lights Went Out

I once had a friend—let’s call him Sam—who used to light up every room he walked into.

He had the job.

The relationship.

The house on the hill with the skyline view.

Then in the span of a few years, it all went dark.

• His wife left.
• A business deal blew up.
• The money vanished faster than it came.

I found him one afternoon in a coffee shop with his hoodie up, hunched over a journal, muttering to himself, “I don’t know who I am anymore.”

There was a moment of silence between us.

Then I said something I didn’t plan to say:

He laughed like I was crazy.

But I wasn’t.

Because when the outer world falls apart, it clears space for something else—a warrior’s rebirth.

And the blueprint for that rebirth?

I didn’t invent it.

I learned it from Miyamoto Musashi—perhaps the greatest swordsman Japan ever produced.

After reading and reflecting on his teachings for years, five simple rules stood out as a pathway back from the abyss.

Not just for warriors.

For anyone who’s ever felt lost, broken, or ready to start over.

The 5 Rules I Learned from Musashi That Can Help You Rebuild Your Life

Musashi didn’t just win duels—he lived with discipline, philosophy, and relentless self-honesty.

His life was proof that you don’t have to be lucky or talented to rise again.

You just have to follow better principles.

Here are the five I pulled from his teachings—and how I’ve seen them change lives, including my own.

1. Begin Where You Are—Not Where You Wish You Were

In 1600, Musashi fought in a war when he was 17 years old—and lost.

His side was crushed. His clan wiped out.

He became a fugitive overnight.

Most people would’ve curled up and disappeared.

But Musashi didn’t waste time crying over the past.

He looked around, accepted reality, and began again.

That’s the first rule I took to heart: Acceptance is power.

In my own life—on the jobsite, on the mat, and during personal storms—this rule has helped me reset faster than any motivational quote ever could.

You can’t fix what you’re still denying.

Acceptance isn’t giving up—it’s waking up.

2. Stop Reaching for Band-Aids When You Need Surgery

Musashi lived like a ghost for years—wandering, training, refining himself.

He could’ve taken comfort, served a lord, lived in a mansion.

He chose the hard path instead.

• No taverns.
• No distractions.
• No running from discomfort.

That was Musashi’s second lesson for me: Don’t chase pleasure to escape pain.

Because the pleasure never lasts.

I’ve felt this in my own life—reaching for pizza, scrolling social media, bingeing Netflix to avoid the emptiness.

All it did was delay the growth I needed.

If you want to rise, you can’t soothe your way out of suffering.

You have to walk through the fire—with purpose.

3. Don’t Let Temporary Emotions Lead to Permanent Mistakes

This one hit me like a punch to the chest:

That’s Musashi, not me.

The modern world tells us to “follow your heart.”

Musashi said that’s how people die in duels—or in life.

​In his most famous fight, he used calm and patience to defeat a furious opponent with a single strike.

His emotions didn’t lead—his clarity did.

I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. In fights. In arguments. In moments of rage.

Now? I pause. I breathe. I don’t act until I’ve cooled off and the path is clear.

That discipline saved me more than once.

It can save you, too.

4. You Are Not the Center of the Universe (Even on Your Worst Day)

Musashi taught that ego is the enemy.​

Even after all his victories, he humbled himself through art, writing, and meditation.

He wasn’t obsessed with himself. He was curious about the world.

His rule?

When life falls apart, we tend to collapse into ourselves. We obsess over our pain. We magnify our flaws.

Musashi reminded me—and I’ll remind you:

• Look up.
• Zoom out.
• Step outside your pain.

You’ll find beauty, community, service, and purpose waiting for you—once you stop staring at your wounds.

5. Jealousy Is a Thief That Robs You While You’re Already Down

This final rule is simple:

Musashi never compared his journey to anyone else’s.

He focused only on sharpening his own blade.​

When I was younger, I let envy eat me alive.

• Guys with better jobs.
• Happier marriages.
• Nicer gear.

It made me bitter.

Musashi’s words slapped me awake.

Jealousy is wasted energy.

Gratitude is fuel.

Now, when I feel the envy creep in, I pause and count my blessings—my health, my wife, the mat, my tribe, this mission.

You can’t build a comeback while watching someone else’s highlight reel.

You can only build it right here, right now—with what you’ve got.

Putting It On the Mat:
How These Samurai Rules Changed My Life (And Can Change Yours)

I didn’t grow up with these rules.

I grew up around bullies, idiots and assholes; on job sites, learning the hard way.

But Musashi’s code found me when I needed it most.

I was burned out. Tired. Spiritually lost. I had checked off all the boxes of success—but inside, I felt like a shadow.

It was only when I started following these principles—not just reading them, but living them—that things shifted.

I stopped resisting the hard seasons.

• Stopped blowing up over small things.
• Stopped numbing myself with distraction.
• Stopped thinking I was the center of the story.
• Stopped wasting time envying other people’s wins.

And I started training again—on the mat and in life.

That’s when the fire came back.

That’s when I remembered who I was.

And that’s what I want for you.

So here’s your invitation—your next rep, your next round:

Warrior’s Practice:

1. What’s one hard truth in your life you haven’t accepted yet?
2. What cheap comforts are keeping you stuck?
3. What emotional storm have you been acting from instead of observing?
4. How can you serve or support someone else this week?
5. Who are you comparing yourself to—and how do you let that go?

Answer those questions. Not in your head. On paper. In real life. In action.

Put it on the mat.

Because rebuilding your life isn’t a fantasy.

It’s a practice.

And Musashi gave us the blueprint.

You just have to pick up the sword.

P.S. If you found this content helpful, I have a favor to ask.

Actually two of them, a selfish one and a not-so-selfish one.

First the selfish one, if this was helpful to you, forward it to someone you think it might help. That helps me to grow my reach.

Now the not-selfish one, the one thing I learned on the mat and on the job was that the most successful leaders were not the ones who knew the most but were the ones who applied and taught the most.

So, if you want to be a better leader, do two things, take immediate action on what you learned today AND share it with someone else. You'll look badass, I promise you.

Also, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, hit me up, reply to this email and let me know what's going on and how I can help you to be a better warrior, leader, and badass.

Thank you, I appreciate you being here in The Daily Dojo, you can learn more at CharlesDoublet.com​