Forging Your Will: How Challenges Make You Stronger
Introduction: Learning Without a Rulebook
Many people think learning has to happen a certain way: find a teacher, follow their directions, and practice until you’re good. It’s like copying from a textbook—knowledge goes straight from the book into your head.
But what if there’s another way?
History shows us that many amazing people became experts without traditional teaching. They didn’t just follow instructions; they learned by doing, by trying things out in the real world, and by facing challenges head-on.
They didn’t just learn—they forged their skills, like a blacksmith hammering metal into shape.
This is the idea behind “Forged Will”—learning by trying things, seeing what happens, and changing your approach as you go. The people we’ll talk about did just that:
They didn’t wait for someone to tell them it was okay to learn.
They didn’t need perfect conditions.
They used challenges to become stronger, not give up.
This isn’t just interesting history—it shows us a different way to think about learning.
Step 1: Learn by Doing (Miyamoto Musashi)
The Idea: You learn best by actually doing things, not just memorizing facts.
Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Japanese swordsman. He didn’t learn to fight in a fancy school. Instead, he created his own unique style by fighting real battles and learning from each experience.[1][3]
For example, he once fought a group of enemies who were trying to ambush him. During the fight, he came up with new moves and ways to use his swords, which helped him survive.[1][3]
Musashi didn’t just memorize moves; he learned to read his opponents and use the environment to his advantage. In one duel, he showed up late to make his opponent angry, used a longer sword than usual, and tricked his opponent into making a mistake.[3][9]
This shows us that real skills come from doing, not just reading or listening. As Musashi said, “You can only fight the way you practice.”[10] He became a master by facing challenges and learning from every fight.
Step 2: Use Challenges to Your Advantage (Harriet Tubman)
The Idea: Don’t avoid challenges—use them to get better.
Most people see challenges as problems. Harriet Tubman, a hero who helped enslaved people escape to freedom, saw them as opportunities.
She didn’t have power or weapons, but she used her knowledge of the land, clever tricks, and bravery to outsmart her enemies. She led people to freedom through swamps and rivers where slave catchers wouldn’t follow.[2][4]
Tubman also used the rules of society to her advantage. She knew that enslaved people who ran away wouldn’t be noticed until Monday, so she always started escapes on Saturdays, giving them a head start.[9][12]
This is how we can learn too. Challenges can help us grow and become stronger. Tubman showed us that limitations can actually help us become experts.
Step 3: Create Your Own Challenges (Theodore Roosevelt)
The Idea: Put yourself in situations where you have to grow and learn.
Theodore Roosevelt, a US president, didn’t just become strong by accident. He went out of his way to find challenges. After some personal tragedies, he moved to the wild Dakota Badlands, where he worked on a ranch and faced difficult weather, animal attacks, and the challenges of leading people in tough times.[1][3][11]
Roosevelt also made sure he stayed active in his everyday life. He set up a boxing ring in the White House, lifted weights, and went on long hikes. He even made it a rule that Navy officers had to pass fitness tests to get promoted![13]
This shows us that we shouldn’t just try to force ourselves to be better. Instead, we should find ways to make challenges a part of our lives. Roosevelt’s story teaches us that we grow when we create situations that force us to adapt and learn.
Step 4: Hands-On Learning is Best (Leonardo da Vinci)
The Idea: Learn by doing and experimenting, not just by reading.
Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant artist and inventor. He didn’t go to a traditional school, but he learned by exploring the world around him.
He dissected bodies to learn how they worked, even though he wasn’t a doctor.[1][8][12] He built amazing inventions, like a self-powered cart, by trying things out and seeing what worked.[2][4][5]
This is how we learn best—by getting our hands dirty and experimenting. If you want to understand something, try it out, build something, and see what happens. Da Vinci shows us that real learning happens when we interact with the world, not just read about it.
Step 7: Find Hidden Opportunities to Learn (Frederick Douglass)
The Idea: Even when learning seems impossible, there are always ways to grow.
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery and wasn’t allowed to learn to read or write. But he found clever ways to educate himself. He traded bread with other children to learn the alphabet.[5][3] He challenged boys to writing contests to improve his skills.[3][6] And he found any spare moment to read, even if it meant sneaking around.[2][8]
Douglass shows us that learning isn’t just about going to school. It’s about finding opportunities wherever you can. He teaches us to look for chances to learn in everyday life, even when things are difficult.
Conclusion: Forge Your Own Path to Learning
These seven amazing people show us that you don’t always need a teacher or a classroom to learn and grow. You can forge your own path to mastery.
What We Can Learn From Them:
True knowledge comes from doing and experiencing.
Challenges can make you stronger.
Be adaptable and ready to change your plans.
Look for hidden opportunities to learn, even when things are tough.
So, don’t just wait for someone to teach you—go out and learn from the world around you! That’s how you forge your will and become the best version of yourself.
Forge Your Will: Reflect and Act
What challenge are you facing right now? How can you turn this challenge into an opportunity to learn and grow?
Which person’s story inspired you the most? What specific lesson can you apply to your life today?
Can you think of a way to create your own challenge that will help you build new skills or strengthen existing ones?
Acknowledgment
This work was made possible with assistance from ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Gemini for research support. Their tools helped refine the historical analysis and provide deeper references for the figures discussed.
References:
[1] The Duels of Miyamoto Musashi - The History of Fighting https://www.historyoffighting.com/miyamoto-musashi.php
[2] What I Learned from Miyamoto Musashi's “Book of 5 Rings” https://www.octavianpilati.com/blog/what-i-learned-from-miyamoto-musashis-book-of-5-rings
[3] The Legend of Miyamoto Musashi - Swords Of Northshire https://www.swordsofnorthshire.com/blogs/theblade/miyamoto-musashi-sword-legend
[4] Harriet Tubman: Nurse, Spy, Scout | Article | The United States Army https://www.army.mil/article/126731/harriet_tubman_nurse_spy_scout
[5] [PDF] Myths & Facts About Harriet Tubman https://www.nps.gov/hatu/planyourvisit/upload/md_tubmanfactsheet_mythsfacts_2.pdf
[6] The Art of Perception: Musashi's Teachings on Situational Awareness https://spotterup.com/the-art-of-perception-musashis-teachings-on-situational-awareness/
[7] Miyamoto Musashi - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyamoto_Musashi
[8] The Book of Fire: Miyamoto Musashi's Fighting Guide - Shortform https://www.shortform.com/blog/the-book-of-fire-miyamoto-musashi/
[9] Was Miyamoto Musashi the greatest samurai in Japanese history? https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/miyamoto-musashi/
[10] Musashi Miyamoto's Teachings (1584~1645) https://mai-ko.com/travel/japanese-history/museum-notes/musashi-miyamotos-teachings-15841645/
[11] Lessons from the Gorin no Sho - Itten Dojo https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/gorin-no-sho
[12] Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi & The Book of Five Rings https://www.thecollector.com/miyamoto-musashi/
[13] Travels and Duels for Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) https://www.storiespreschool.com/miyamoto_musashi4.html
[14] Miyamoto Musashi, the Way of the Warrior - Study Martial Arts Abroad https://www.studymartialarts.org/blog/miyamoto-musashi
[15] Master Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi: The Man Behind The Book ... https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00689/master-swordsman-miyamoto-musashi-the-man-behind-the-book-of-five-rings.html
[16] Theodore Roosevelt - Learning to Give https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/theodore-roosevelt
[17] The Conservationist - Theodore Roosevelt Association https://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=991271&module_id=339340
[18] How Theodore Roosevelt Combined Hunting and Conservation | TIME https://time.com/5259995/theodore-roosevelt-portrait-conservation-hunting/
[19] Leonardo da Vinci Inventions https://www.leonardodavincisinventions.com/leonardo-da-vinci-inventions/
[20] Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man - Vancouver Art Gallery https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/leonardo-da-vinci-the-mechanics-of-man/
[21] Science and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_inventions_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci
[22] Da Vinci Mechanical Inventions - Da Vinci Ball Bearing https://www.leonardodavincisinventions.com/mechanical-inventions/da-vinci-mechanical-inventions/
[23] Galileo's Experiment - The Engines of Our Ingenuity https://engines.egr.uh.edu/episode/166
[24] Galileo's Pendulum Experiments http://galileo.rice.edu/lib/student_work/experiment95/galileo_pendulum.html
[25] Galileo and Scientific Method - Rasch.org https://www.rasch.org/rmt/rmt64g.htm
[26] Genghis Khan and 13th-Century AirLand Battle https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/Directors-Select-Articles/Genghis-Khan/
[27] The Fearless Charge of Genghis Khan | History - Vocal Media https://vocal.media/history/the-fearless-charge-of-genghis-khan
[28] Mongol Military Tactics: Strategies, Horsemen, and Siege Warfare https://www.mongolianz.com/post/2023/09/14/mongol-military-tactics-strategies-horsemen-and-siege-warfare/
[29] Frederick Douglass & The Power of Literacy - LEO https://smleo.com/2017/01/24/frederick-douglass-the-power-of-literacy/
[30] The Incredible Story of How Fredrick Douglass Learned To Read ... https://alexandbooks.com/archive/the-incredible-story-of-how-fredrick-douglass-learned-to-read-amp-write
[31] Frederick Douglass,”How I Learned to Read” | ENG 101 College ... https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-eng-101-college-writing-i/chapter/frederick-douglasshow-i-learned-to-read/
