Elnaril Valana
banner
wayofkokuro.bsky.social
Elnaril Valana
@wayofkokuro.bsky.social
Avatar. Sensei. Head of the Kokuro School. Fusing ancient wisdom and modern science to teach the skills of self mastery.
Letters at https://thewayofkokuro.substack.com/
The foundational skills of fitness are simple.

These are the 4 key exercises that you should master.

open.substack.com/pub/thewayof...
Forge Your Foundation: The Warrior's Path to a Strong Body
The 4 key exercises you should be doing today
open.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Sleep is the at the root of all excellence.

Whilst it feels passive, it is a process of great development and healing.

Cutting out sleep to work towards goals is a false economy.

Work hard. Rest hard.
August 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Hi algorithm,

Please connect me with those interested in:
- self development
- meditation
- martial art
- training
- philosophy
- psychology

I want to hear about others' ideas and challenges.
August 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
What factors are guiding your actions?

How much control do you have over them?

The power of the subconscious is far greater than we realise.

Our habits are an important mechanism for influencing this.

Read more here:

open.substack.com/pub/thewayof...
The Invisible Chains: Are Your Habits Holding You Back or Pushing You Forward?
The difference between a life of struggle and a life of flourishing lies in understanding which ones to break and which ones to build.
open.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The most common excuse for not meditating? "I don't have time."

But what if meditating for just 5 minutes a day gave you back an hour of focus and clarity?

It's not a time sink; it's a productivity hack.
August 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Your willpower is like a muscle.

It gets stronger with every small decision you make.

Start with a tiny, easy win today.
Make your bed.
Drink a glass of water.

That one small act of discipline builds a foundation for all the bigger ones.
August 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Feeling stuck?

The secret to a breakthrough isn't a new strategy; it's a new level of discipline.

Train your mind, train your body, train your craft.

Consistency is the currency of progress
August 9, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Stop, Breathe, Notice.

That's the simple three-step meditation that can reset your day in 60 seconds.
Forget complicated poses or chanting.

Just pause, take a deep breath, and notice what's happening around you and inside you.

The world is too fast. Give yourself a moment.
August 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Be not afraid of death.

Failing to live is far more terrible.
August 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Is anxiety crippling you?

Ask yourself this: What are you avoiding?

It may be as simple as not listening to your true voice.

Face the anxiety, confront it, and you will find the resolution.
August 8, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Elnaril Valana
It is your behaviour that counts.

Not your thoughts,
Not your beliefs,
Not your hopes.

It is how you act that will define you.
And how you will define others.

Be mindful of this.
July 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It is your behaviour that counts.

Not your thoughts,
Not your beliefs,
Not your hopes.

It is how you act that will define you.
And how you will define others.

Be mindful of this.
July 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Stop thinking that life will start tomorrow,
or the day after,
or whenever it is that you have done... whatever you are planning.

It is happening now,
And you are missing it.
July 7, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Our latest letter is out.

It looks at the second core virtue - truth.

How can we know where to go without an understanding of what is true?

Read it here: thewayofkokuro.substack.com/p/the-7-virt...
July 7, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The path to self mastery involves pain.

It is literally reshaping who we are - this cannot be done without discomfort.
July 7, 2025 at 5:43 AM
I am excited to announce our first product.

Our e-book covers the core physiology of sleep, how central it is for our health, and how we can improve it.

See it here: payhip.com/TheKokuroSchool
July 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Your body is naturally lazy.
It's not your fault - nature has designed it this way.

But your body requires exertion to function optimally.
This is your responsibility.
July 5, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Master your emotions or be mastered by them.

It is that simple
July 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
"Don't attribute to malice what you can attribute to incompetence."
Hanlon's razor
July 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Our latest letter looks at the 7 virtues, starting with the most important - courage.

thewayofkokuro.substack.com/p/the-7-virt...
The 7 virtues of Kokuro: 1. Courage
“He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive.” – Seneca
thewayofkokuro.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Your mindset is the window through which you view the world.

It governs how you even perceive it, never mind how you react to it.

Be sure that this is a part of your mind that you actively cultivate.

To do otherwise is to wander blindly.
June 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Butterflies scatter,
Blackbirds chatter,
And the summer sun warms my neck.
And I remember that life is beautiful,
As if I had somehow forgotten.
June 29, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Train your mind,

Train your body.

Both are important and support the other.

You cannot thrive in either dimension in isolation.
June 29, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Our mindsets are the tinted glasses through which we see the world.

What we don't recognise is that we can take them on and off at will.

It just takes practise.
June 28, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The tree's strength doesn't come from what you can see, but from the roots.

It is the same with us.

Our strength lies inside.

From the skills and virtues we have practiced and honed.

Invisible, but powerful.
June 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM