That brings us to commandment number four: “Keep an empty mind . . . If it is worth taking up the space of your mind, it is worth acting upon!”

What’s wrong with an active mind that’s full of ideas? Well, the fact is that the mind indiscriminately absorbs ideas, impressions, and beliefs without your conscious knowledge, and if you allow everything into your mind (without practising discrimination), how will you be able to decide what is worthwhile and what is not? And when will you do that? Just imagine that you are engaged in your favourite activity or pastime (decapitating trolls for example) and are constantly being distracted by myriad thoughts and ideas. How effective will you be? Is it possible that you will make a mistake? That you may be distracted enough to cause yourself harm? Come on, be honest, and stop lying to yourself. You are not God’s answer to multitasking! Your power comes from being able to focus. To be able to focus intently, you need an empty mind, a clean slate, a clear platform, and a space devoid of distractions!

What about part two? This is the discrimination factor! Look at all of the junk in your mind. If you hold it up to the light of the Will I Act Upon This? criteria, then you have the basis for kill or keep, yes or no (there is no room for maybe). If this is a new idea to you, you will have lots of maybes in your mind that you are not willing to let go of yet. This is another occasion when less is more. Give yourself some time. Then go over these maybes again and get ruthless! Really, if you aren’t going to get on it in the next 30, or 60, or 90 days, blow it away or write it down and file it away in your future ideas folder. The more practised you get, the closer the time horizon you can focus on as you come to realize that most of this stuff is just getting free rent in the space of your mind.

So what are the benefits? Awareness of the world around you! True warriors are externally conscious in an unconsciously competent way—ready, aware, and able to read the signs! You are warriors and you will toss aside the easy and the mundane. You will clear your mind and see with laser-light focus that which you must do to succeed. So it is written.