Warrior Pose (2 page)

Most of us know, at least at the intellectual level, that when we run into adversity it compels us to experience ourselves at a deeper level, and that which does not kill us makes us stronger. If only we could recall this when the next tragedy is upon us and have faith in ourselves and in the world we live in! How courageous we would all be, and how honest we would be with ourselves, and with what integrity we would live our lives every day! Each of us comes to the world with our own
dharma
, the path we are meant to walk in life. But far too few of us ever discover what that path is, how to be faithful to this deeper purpose, or even that such a thing might be. This is always to our tragic detriment. However, each of us also has the capacity to be who we truly are, who we came here to be, just like the hero of the enlightening story that you will soon be enjoying.

As I read
Warrior Pose
, I discovered myself thrilling to the adventures of a journalistic Indiana Jones, a young man following his heart and living a soldier-of-fortune lifestyle that every kid imagines for himself from time to time. It reminded me of the kind of life I would have wanted, or gone after, had I possessed the courage. By taking himself to some of the most dangerous and hotly contested areas of the world, Brad Willis exposed himself to humanity in a uniquely stark and unflinching way. Again and again he was able to see beyond the curtain, reveal the grisly political machine that has been controlling the destiny of our world, and bring focus to the underlying humanity within us all.

Some might read this account and think they are just reading a fascinating memoir. They will miss an important truth:
Warrior Pose
is about your life, my life, all our lives, and even the history of our world—a history we often fail to learn from and that therefore seems to repeat itself. You and I may never have been to all his extremes, but the author's story is our story. The unpredictability of life, the betrayal of our political system, the inhumanity of our social interactions, and the importance of love to our healing and wholeness, these are the same for all of us. Willis's journey is your journey, and my journey—writ large. It's the story of someone who was powerfully guided, even driven, one might say, to receive the deepest of teachings. To read this book properly, you must be open to receive this teaching as well. Don't read with just your head—allow your heart to participate in the journey.

Come to the battlefields with the author; peer into the smoking tanks and see the horrors of war up close. Breathe in the depleted uranium from the U.S. artillery shells that will cause stage IV throat cancer. Helicopter into the jungles of Bolivia as cocaine drug labs are uncovered and set ablaze. And be there as Willis travels undercover with freedom fighters into Soviet-occupied Afghanistan to document the atrocities of war visited upon the most innocent of victims.

Let yourself feel how depressed he became after seemingly losing it all and ending up in a body brace with a prognosis of paralysis and death. Then, as his marriage was crumbling and all seemed lost, listen and hear the fervent words of his young son that echoed continuously in Willis's head, touched the chords of love in his heart, and awakened his inner power to push on to heal and transform. Allow yourself to be touched. Be fully present as you read, and with a little luck, as you experience his turnaround you will learn something of great importance to your personal journey.

As a scientist and a doctor, I can share with you that this book also lays out beautifully the essential philosophy that leads to the deepest healing. You will learn the power of profound relaxation, how to use guided imagery to impact your body and future, mantra to keep you present, and inspiration to keep you focused on your true goals. You will be inspired to reclaim a power that has been within you all
along. A power that not only can transform your life but can help transform the world, because as Mahatma Gandhi said: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Perhaps Willis's recount of his dark night of the Soul can help you quiet the distractions in your mind so you can remember this always, so that you can look honestly at your life and your world, and know your own truth. Perhaps, as you accompany him through his harrowing adventures, you will see a light that can bring extraordinary and unexpected richness, and a complete transformation of one's life. If you can see it, you are most fortunate. You have arrived. Stay focused on it, follow it, and I am certain you will be richly rewarded.

—Dr. Emmett Miller
Self-Help for Mind, Body, Emotions and Spirit

Dr. Emmett Miller is best known for his revolutionary work in creating the holistic approach to healing and the field of mind-body medicine and integrative (holistic) medicine. Dr. Miller has received special acclaim for his development of the field of guided imagery, a revolutionary tool for empowering people to use the power of their minds for self-healing and optimal performance. He is the author of numerous books on holistic and mind-body medicine and co-creator of
DrMiller.com
.

Introduction

Life's greatest lessons usually sneak up on us when we least expect them. Some hit like hurricanes, turning our worlds upside down and wreaking havoc. It's always confusing, chaotic, and challenging to understand why we've been chosen for such a fate, and in the midst of the maelstrom, it's impossible to view our suffering as a blessing. But it almost always is.

This is my personal story. But it's about you, too. It's about all of us. I say this because I've come to learn that there's a power deep within every human being that can help us overcome great obstacles, deal with crisis and calamity, and turn our suffering into a catalyst for positive change and personal transformation. I know this is true because I am alive today even though all the experts said I should have passed away long ago.

I was in the prime of my life, traveling the world as a foreign correspondent for NBC News, when my storm hit and everything came crashing down around me. In what seemed like an instant, I was declared permanently disabled with a broken back. Then came a diagnosis of terminal cancer, with only two years to live. I was once capable of covering wars, crossing deserts, climbing mountains, and slipping in and out of battle zones with ease. Now I couldn't sit up to eat a meal, walk without a cane, or speak without a voice box strapped around my neck. The career that had been my greatest joy and defined my life for more than two decades was gone forever. My identity was shattered. I no longer knew who I was or why I was alive.

I became completely dependent on a medical system that didn't help me heal. Chronic pain and heavy medications warped my mind and stole my Soul. I was angry, confused, frightened, and deeply depressed. As I approached death's door, addicted to painkillers and alcohol, I fell into an abyss. Not a person on Earth could have told me that somewhere in this darkness was a glimmer of light.

It was an overwhelming love for my two-year-old son that finally motivated me to transform my life. This realization was triggered one morning when he tearfully implored me to “Get up, Daddy.”
Getting up
required recreating myself in body, mind, and Soul. I had to move past my rational mind and journalistic cynicism, and find the courage to venture into a realm of self-healing and inner awareness I once dismissed as absurd. There, in the deepest reaches of my being, I discovered my own battlefield, with wounds to treat, conflicts to resolve, and peace to be made.

It was the greatest challenge I have ever faced, but ultimately I overcame cancer and a broken back, forged a new life, and was able to be the father my son deserved. My healing journey taught me that there is an inherent power and natural intelligence within all of us. By tapping into these forces, we can move far beyond our perceived limitations and often achieve miraculous results. We see this in the mother who performs an astonishing feat of strength to protect her child, in the passerby who rushes into a natural disaster to save a life, and in the small children who flee war-torn villages and somehow manage to survive against staggering odds.

These might seem like isolated incidents that have little to do with us, but they illustrate a great truth:
The capacity to rise up and overcome great obstacles is our birthright as members of humankind.
The more fully we reclaim this right from a system that has all too often disempowered and disenfranchised us, the more we are able to experience profound healing, liberate ourselves, and chart new courses in our lives.

Although years of physical pain and emotional anguish were nothing I ever would have wished for, I now realize that a broken back, failed surgery, cancer, and a lost career were my greatest teachers and biggest blessings. They taught me more about the world than all my
previous travels and experiences combined, compelled me to face myself, and made me a better human being.

This book details my personal journey from a career as a war correspondent to life as a permanently disabled person with terminal cancer. It shares my descent into years of darkness; the battle against depression, painkillers, and alcohol; and the story of how I ultimately clawed my way back into the world. My intention is that
Warrior Pose
will inspire all who face physical and emotional crises to dig down deep, connect with their power, and unfold their fullest potential.

 

Bhava Ram
(Brad Willis)

AUTHOR
'
S
NOTE
: Some names in this book have been changed for reasons of confidentiality. My healing program as outlined in this book is not a formula for anyone other than myself. The practices I undertook should never be done by persons with certain health disorders, and an experienced doctor, teacher, or healing practitioner should always be consulted by those facing serious medical challenges.

CHAPTER 1

Afghanistan

M
AHMOUD'S EYES mesmerize me. They are deep ebony. Plump as a newborn fawn's. He holds my gaze with such blazing clarity that I feel frozen in time. He's a small, slender boy. Ten, maybe eleven years old. His thick, black hair is beginning to show again on his shaved head. His perfect white teeth glisten as he softly smiles.