FREE Course: (A MUST Read) The Wild Card by Kevin Wikse

 

“Stack your deck with Jokers.”

My mentor's words echoed like a distant drumbeat, persistent and unwavering: "A warrior’s ultimate goal is freedom."Not wealth. Not accolades. Not the fleeting approval of others. Freedom, in its rawest and most dangerous form, must drive the heart and mind of anyone on the warrior’s path. 

And make no mistake, freedom isn't something handed to you. It’s won, wrestled from the grip of unseen forces that have kept you, and everyone else, a prisoner of the status quo. Your fight for freedom starts here, at this very moment. Because if you don’t see the battlefield you’re standing on, then you’ve already lost. As a warrior, you can no longer afford to live by the rules designed for the complacent—rules set in place by powers that thrive on global ignorance, unconscious obedience, and lives lived on autopilot. A warrior’s awareness cuts through that illusion like a blade.

To begin, you must face an uncomfortable truth, one that most people spend their lives avoiding. Society—its norms, expectations, and rewards—is built on illusions. These illusions are meant to keep you in line, to control how you think, act, and even dream. They tell you what to value, how to behave, and what to strive for. But as a warrior, you must recognize these constructs for what they are: a cage. As Orwell so brutally observed in Animal Farm, "To see the farm is to leave it." Once your eyes are opened, there is no going back. You can no longer live in ignorance of the chains around you, for they no longer exist to you.

The strange stirrings you’ve begun to feel, the sense that something is fundamentally wrong, that the world as it’s presented to you is incomplete—those are not illusions. They are the truth. You are on the edge, teetering between two realities: the docile life of the captive or the dangerous life of the warrior. And here’s the hard part—there is no middle ground. You will either leap into the unknown, or some force, your own awakening perhaps, will eventually shove you off the edge and into the abyss of truth. Either way, your initiation has already begun.

Freedom from Perception

To be a warrior, you must be free—free from the expectations and perceptions of others, free from the suffocating need to play the roles that society assigns to you. The world loves to trap individuals into boxes: career paths, social statuses, gender roles, and family expectations. People will always try to define you according to their worldview, to mold you into the person they need you to be, not the warrior you must become. 

As a warrior, you will no longer be burdened by these chains. You cannot afford to be. These projections—whether well-meaning or malicious—are nothing but psychic prisons, reinforced by others and unconsciously agreed to by you. But no more. Your life cannot be dictated by the whims and desires of others. The warrior, and only the warrior, decides who they are. And that decision must be based on nothing but their own calculated thoughts and strategic actions.

You see, the battlefield is not just external. It’s within you, in the deepest recesses of your mind, where the real war for freedom takes place. This internal war for personal power demands constant vigilance. Every decision, every thought, every action is a choice between power or surrender. 

Freedom is won with Energy and Awareness

But freedom comes at a price. To live as a warrior, you must actively engage in a constant war for awareness and energy. Most people allow life to wash over them, passive participants in their own existence. The warrior, however, is different. You must continually assess your life, ruthlessly and without judgment. Examine who you’ve been and who others have tried to make you. Then, with defiance burning in your veins, shatter those old roles. For only by destroying the hopes and dreams others had for you, can you reclaim your own.

There will be consequences for this—real-world consequences. But you must be prepared to lose in order to gain. Every event, every challenge, every interaction is a test. In each moment, you are either gaining power or losing it. There is no neutrality. As a warrior, your choices matter, and your freedom depends on them.

Breaking the Chains of Social Constructs

A warrior cannot be bound by societal norms or expectations. The chains of social constructs—expectations around success, behavior, and status—are heavy. They will weigh you down, sap your energy, and, worst of all, render you indecisive. The warrior must be fluid, able to navigate the battlefield of life without hesitation. Doubt and hesitation are killers, and they come from being overly concerned with the opinions of others. The warrior cannot afford this.

To live on your terms, you must make a definitive break. The moment of "First Blood" comes when you realize that freedom is your only true pursuit, and anything that stands in the way must be discarded. You are no longer playing by the rules designed for slaves. The warrior stacks the deck in their favor, not by following the winning hand society offers—Aces, Kings, Queens—but by stacking their deck with Joker cards, wild and unpredictable. You determine their value. You determine the game.

War is Everywhere and Always

Finally, you must understand that a warrior’s life is one of perpetual conflict—not external, but internal. A war for awareness. A war for energy. Your enemies are complacency, distraction, and doubt. Your battleground is every interaction, every decision, every thought. The stakes are nothing less than your personal power and freedom. There is no standing still, no middle ground. Every moment is either a gain or a loss. 

So, take the first step. Break the chains. Examine your life under a microscope, not as a critic, but as a warrior assessing the battlefield. Freedom is your birthright, but it will not be given. You must take it. And in doing so, you’ll begin the journey—bloody, bruised, and bold—into becoming a true warrior.

Key Takeaways

1. Freedom as the Ultimate Goal.

The warrior’s primary objective is not wealth, recognition, or social approval, but absolute freedom.

Freedom is the single most important motivation for a warrior. This isn’t just physical freedom, but freedom of thought, action, and spirit. For the warrior, the fight for liberation is a battle against both external forces and internal conditioning. True freedom means the ability to choose how you live, how you think, and how you act—without being controlled by societal expectations, the opinions of others, or the unseen powers that keep most people docile. Every decision the warrior makes must serve the endgame of securing and expanding this freedom.

2. Awareness of the Illusion of Society.

Society’s structures and rules are illusions designed to keep individuals passive, ignorant, and obedient.

A warrior must recognize that the norms, values, and structures handed down by society are constructs designed to control behavior. The expectations placed upon individuals—from career paths to personal roles—are tools used by the unseen powers to maintain control. These illusions are meant to keep people unaware of their true potential, pacifying them into complacency. For a warrior, the first step to liberation is breaking through these illusions, understanding that societal rules do not serve their freedom or their power, but instead reinforce captivity. Once these illusions are seen for what they are, they can no longer be followed or trusted.

 3. Lucid Awareness.

The battleground for personal power exists not only in the external world but also in the mind and the dreamscape.

Warriors must cultivate awareness on all levels. This means developing lucidity not only in day-to-day life but also within their subconscious. The battlefield is everywhere—when awake, when asleep, when interacting with others, and when alone. A warrior learns to operate strategically across all these fronts. The fight for personal power doesn’t end when the eyes close; in fact, it intensifies. This is why lucid dreaming and awareness training are critical tools. The warrior knows that whether in dreams or in reality, to be unaware is to be vulnerable.

 4. Freedom from the Perception of Others.

The warrior must free themselves from the expectations and perceptions others hold of them.

One of the greatest hindrances to a warrior’s freedom is the need for approval from others or the desire to fulfill societal roles. Most people are trapped by the expectations placed upon them—whether by family, friends, or society at large. They spend their lives trying to meet these external expectations, which drains their energy and limits their freedom. The warrior, however, must break these chains. The warrior does not live for others’ perceptions. They decide their own value and path, indifferent to what others project onto them. This freedom from external validation is crucial for the warrior’s ability to act with clarity and purpose.

5. Rejection  of Social Constructs.

Social constructs, such as rules around success, behavior, and roles, are tools of enslavement.

A warrior understands that social constructs—career hierarchies, gender roles, and the pursuit of status—are designed to keep individuals trapped in predictable patterns. These constructs act like invisible chains, weighing down the warrior’s ability to move freely and decisively. The warrior must reject these constructs entirely. Social norms are not designed to serve the individual’s freedom; they are created to reinforce the power of the system. By breaking free from them, the warrior can reclaim the energy that would otherwise be lost maintaining these artificial roles.

6. The War for Personal Power and Energy.

The warrior’s life is a constant battle for personal power and energy, which can be gained or lost in every action and interaction.

Every interaction, every moment, is a battlefield where the warrior either gains or loses personal power. Unlike most people, who unconsciously surrender their energy to distractions, negative emotions, or external demands, the warrior is constantly aware of the stakes. They know that their energy must be preserved and cultivated, as it is the fuel for their freedom. This awareness requires constant vigilance. The warrior must continually assess their actions, thoughts, and surroundings to determine what strengthens their personal power and what drains it. Every decision is a strategic move in the larger war for maintaining and increasing this power.

7. Breaking Free from Roles Imposed by Others.

Most people live confined to roles assigned to them by others, but a warrior refuses to be imprisoned by anyone’s expectations.

Society, through its norms and expectations, attempts to force individuals into predefined roles, whether those are familial, professional, or social. For the warrior, allowing oneself to be constrained by these roles is a form of psychic imprisonment. Warriors recognize that these roles are limiting and suffocating, often imposed by others for their own benefit. To reclaim their freedom, warriors must consciously reject these roles and define their own identity. They do this not through rebellion for its own sake, but as an act of self-liberation, driven by the need to act in alignment with their own purpose and desires, not those of others.

8. Strategic Flexibility.

The warrior can change their path at any moment, discarding one direction to pursue another that serves their growth and power.

One of the key qualities of a warrior is the ability to adapt and change direction at any time. A warrior is not trapped by past decisions or commitments. If the current path no longer serves their ultimate goal of freedom and power, they have the courage to abandon it. This strategic flexibility allows the warrior to continually assess and adjust their course, without feeling bound by the expectations of consistency or loyalty to outdated beliefs. The power to pivot, to reshape one’s life or strategy at any moment, is a critical component of the warrior’s freedom.

9. Ruthless Self-Examination.

A warrior must constantly examine their life and actions with ruthless honesty, free from self-judgment.

Warriors must be both their own harshest critic and their most compassionate observer. They must examine their thoughts, behaviors, and patterns with a cold, analytical eye, seeing themselves clearly without the fog of ego or societal programming. This requires a delicate balance—being ruthless in the pursuit of truth, while also nonjudgmental. Self-criticism for the sake of guilt or shame is pointless and drains power. The warrior’s self-examination is driven by the need to refine their strategy, to learn from past mistakes, and to optimize their actions moving forward.

10.  Stacking the Deck with Jokers.

The warrior does not seek the traditional “winning hand” but instead stacks the deck in their favor with flexibility and adaptability.

Society teaches that success means playing by its rules, aiming for the high cards—Aces, Kings, Queens—symbols of conventional power and status. But the warrior knows that true power comes from flexibility and unpredictability. The warrior stacks their deck with Joker cards, which can be anything they need them to be at any given moment. The Joker card represents the warrior’s ability to adapt, to change the rules of the game, and to turn any situation to their advantage. This kind of strategic thinking allows the warrior to be effective in any scenario, on their own terms.

Training Exercise

Ruthless Self-Examination

This exercise is designed to help the warrior evaluate, with brutal honesty yet nonjudgmental clarity, the relationships in their life. The goal is to identify the roles you play in relation to others, assess whether those roles serve your personal power and freedom, and decide how to strategically move forward.

Step 1: List the People You Interact With Regularly.

Create a comprehensive list of the people you interact with on a regular or semi-regular basis. These can include:

- Family members

- Friends

- Colleagues or business associates

- Romantic partners

- Neighbors or acquaintances

Be exhaustive. Include everyone with whom you have ongoing contact, no matter how casual or formal the relationship.

Step 2: Identify the Roles You Play for Each Person.

For each person on your list, identify the specific roles you play in relation to them. Some examples may include:

- Caregiver

- Confidant

- Employee/Boss

- Mentor/Mentee

- Peacemaker

- Entertainer

- Provider

- Partner (romantic or otherwise)

Be as detailed and specific as possible. If you play multiple roles for a single person, list them all.

Step 3: Perceive How They See You.

Next, reflect on how you believe this person sees you. How do they view your role in their life? Do they see you as reliable, weak, powerful, needy, a leader, a follower, or someone they can manipulate? Be brutally honest here. This is not about how you wish they saw you but about how you genuinely believe they see you. This step requires ruthless self-awareness but also a sense of non-attachment to avoid ego-driven responses.

Step 4: Evaluate Each Role and Perception.

Once you have listed the roles and perceptions for each person, sit with each one and ask yourself the following questions:

- Is this a useful role?  Does the role give you more personal power, or does it drain you?

- Does this role offer you freedom, or does it limit you? Are you able to move freely in and out of this role, or are you stuck, locked into a position that restricts your true self?

- What can you use to your advantage? Is there something in how this person perceives you that you can strategically use to further your personal goals or enhance your freedom?

- What must you avoid? Are there aspects of this perception that limit you or keep you from being the warrior you need to be?

- Have you agreed to these perceptions? Did you unconsciously agree to these roles and perceptions because it was easier to fit into them? Are you comfortable continuing in these roles, or have you outgrown them?

Be ruthless in answering these questions, but maintain neutrality. This is not about assigning blame or guilt—it’s about recognizing the realities of your relationships and the roles you’ve chosen (or been forced) to play.

Step 5: Assess Power and Freedom.

Now, assess how these roles and perceptions either empower or disempower you:

- Power Gained: Do you feel that interacting with this person strengthens your sense of self, energy, and personal power? Does the relationship offer you growth, knowledge, and opportunities to enhance your awareness?

- Power Lost: Do you find that the relationship drains your energy, keeps you small, or makes you doubt your choices? Are you sacrificing your power to maintain peace, acceptance, or comfort?

Consider the answers carefully. If a role empowers you, consider what elements make it a source of strength. If it disempowers you, reflect on how and why it does so. The goal is not just to recognize these dynamics, but to understand their effects on your freedom and ability to act as a warrior.

Step 6: Make a Strategic Decision.

With the knowledge you’ve gained, decide how to proceed. For each relationship and role, you must now consider:

- Is this a worthwhile relationship? Does it contribute to your growth and power, or does it keep you stagnant?

- Can adjustments be made? Can you change the dynamics of the relationship to make it more empowering, or is it beyond adjustment?

  - If it can be improved, what must be done? Do you need to assert boundaries, redefine your role, or reframe how the person perceives you? Consider both subtle and direct ways to shift the power dynamics in your favor.

  - If it can’t be improved, is it time to leave? Sometimes, the only strategic move is to distance yourself from relationships that diminish your power. If that is the case, prepare yourself to let go and maneuver away, tactically so as not to be dragged down.

Step 7: Create Your Plan of Action.

Develop a clear and strategic action plan for how you will handle each relationship. This may include:

- Setting new boundaries

- Changing the nature of your interactions

- Reducing contact or severing ties altogether

- Enhancing roles that empower you while eliminating those that disempower

Remember, as a warrior, your actions are calculated and precise. You must weigh the benefits and risks of every relationship and interaction, always seeking to preserve your energy and freedom.

Step 8: Continuous Reflection.

After making your initial adjustments, continue to monitor these relationships. Situations and people change, and so should your approach. Maintain a vigilant, nonjudgmental awareness of how these relationships evolve. Adjust your strategy as needed to ensure you are always gaining power and avoiding entrapment.

Summary of Key Actions

1. List all people you regularly interact with.

2. Identify the roles you play and how each person perceives you.

3. Evaluate each role and perception—does it empower or disempower you?

4. Decide whether to keep, modify, or strategically maneuver away from these relationships.

5. Develop and implement a strategic action plan for each relationship.

6. Continuously reflect and adjust your approach as necessary.

The warrior must always operate from a place of awareness, freedom, and personal power. This exercise is meant to give you clarity on the hidden power dynamics of your relationships, enabling you to navigate them with strategy and control.

How the warrior will best be served in approaching this Training Exercise.

For the warrior to truly extract value from this exercise, it must not be treated as a one-off task but rather as an ongoing process of reflection and recalibration. The nature of relationships, power dynamics, and roles is fluid, and therefore, continuous assessment is crucial for a warrior seeking freedom and personal power. However, for the purpose of this lesson, the warrior must approach the exercise with ruthless precision and unwavering focus, devoting serious time and effort to the task.

Recommended Approach.

1. Select No Less Than Seven People.

 The warrior must choose at least seven individuals from their life—people with whom they have regular or semi-regular interaction. These should be significant relationships, ones that involve emotional, mental, or social investments. The choice of these individuals should be strategic: think of those who have a measurable impact on your daily life, power dynamics, or freedom of movement.

2. Spend No Less Than One Week with Each Individual Study.

This exercise is not to be rushed. The warrior must spend no less than a full week examining each individual relationship. During this period, the warrior should become a relentless observer, watching interactions with clarity and neutrality. Take note of patterns, behaviors, and the roles you slip into without thinking. Consider how the other person’s perceptions and expectations influence your own decisions and actions. 

Day 1-2: Observation and Reflection.

Spend these initial days simply observing the interactions you have with the person. Take mental or physical notes on your feelings, reactions, and the unspoken dynamics between you.

  Day 3-4:  Identifying Roles and Perceptions. 

Define the specific roles you play for this individual and how they likely perceive you. Be brutally honest in identifying these roles. Write down every role and perception, no matter how small or uncomfortable.

   Day 5-6: Evaluation.  

With the list of roles and perceptions in hand, sit with each one. Ask yourself the critical questions:  

     - Does this role offer me power or take power away?

     - Does it give me freedom, or does it restrict me?

     - What can I use to my advantage in these perceptions, and what should I avoid?

     - Have I agreed to these perceptions unconsciously? Are they empowering or disempowering me?

   Day 7:  Strategic Decision-Making  

By the final day of the week, you should have a clear understanding of the relationship’s impact on your power and freedom. Decide whether this relationship is worth maintaining as is, adjusting, or whether you need to maneuver yourself away from it. Formulate a strategy for how you will handle this relationship moving forward.

3. Repeat for Each Individual.  

 After completing the full week with one individual, move to the next person on your list. Each relationship deserves the same level of attention, scrutiny, and strategic thought. A warrior who cuts corners in this exercise weakens their ability to navigate the complex web of social dynamics that can drain their personal power.

4. Record and Reflect.  

Keep a detailed journal or log throughout the exercise, documenting your observations, the roles you uncover, and your strategic decisions. This log will serve as a valuable tool for tracking your growth and understanding patterns across multiple relationships.

Key Points to Keep in Mind Throughout the Process.

 Neutrality and Non-Judgment.

While it may be uncomfortable to uncover certain truths about your relationships, remain a neutral observer. The goal is not to pass judgment on yourself or others, but to assess how these relationships impact your personal power and freedom.

This is an Ongoing Practice.

 This is not a one-time analysis. Relationships evolve, and so must your awareness. As a warrior, you must always stay vigilant in assessing the roles you play and how they affect your power.

Freedom and Power as the Ultimate Guides. 

The ultimate goal of this exercise is to ensure that your relationships serve your quest for freedom and personal power. Anything that does not contribute to these objectives must be reevaluated, adjusted, or discarded.

Ruthless Honesty is Non-Negotiable.

A warrior must be willing to confront uncomfortable truths about how others perceive them and the roles they’ve unconsciously accepted. Without this level of honesty, no true progress can be made.

By the end of this exercise, the warrior will have gained a sharper awareness of their social dynamics and how they can strategically navigate these relationships to maintain and grow their personal power. The process may be challenging, but it is a critical step in the warrior's journey toward true freedom.

-Kevin Wikse