Sun Tzu wrote, “Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning.”

Morning is when the air is crisp, the mind is sharp, and the body is fresh. It’s when energy is at its peak and the will to act is strongest. Sun Tzu knew that in war, you strike when your troops are most alive, before fatigue dulls their courage and doubt creeps in. The same principle applies to life—you must seize your own “morning” moments before the grind of the day wears you down.

Think about how most people start their day. They roll out of bed slowly, let their phone dictate their mood, and slip into the current of distractions before they’ve even taken control of their mind. But a soldier—a true warrior—treats the morning as sacred. It’s the time to set the tone, to anchor the mind, to sharpen the edge before battle begins.

Your spirit in the morning is like a drawn bow. The potential energy is there, waiting to be released. But if you waste that time—if you hesitate, scroll aimlessly, or delay action—you let that tension fade, and the arrow never flies as far. The key is to direct that morning energy toward your mission before the world starts making demands of you.

That means the moment you wake up, you remind yourself of your purpose. You set your intentions for the day. You move your body, feed your mind, and prepare your spirit so that when challenges appear, you’re already in motion. Sun Tzu didn’t send his troops into battle sluggish and uncertain—he sent them forward with momentum.

And here’s something else: the “morning” isn’t just about the clock. It’s about the start of anything—your first steps into a new project, the beginning of a relationship, the launch of a dream. That is when your spirit is most alive, when excitement is pure and possibilities are wide open. But just like the hours of the day, that early energy fades if you don’t harness it. You must act decisively while the fire is still hot.

So, how do you protect and use that keen morning spirit? First, claim your mornings—don’t let them be stolen by laziness or distractions. Second, give yourself a target every single day—something worth hitting, something that will move you closer to your goals. Third, start with a win, no matter how small. A disciplined morning creates a disciplined day, and a disciplined day creates a disciplined life.

Remember, every morning is a fresh battlefield. You can choose to show up as a sluggish recruit or as a sharpened warrior. One choice leads to mediocrity; the other leads to mastery.

So tomorrow, when you open your eyes, know this: your spirit is at its sharpest. Don’t waste it. Rise with purpose. Move with speed. Strike while your energy is strongest. Win the morning, and you win the day. Win enough days, and you will win your life.

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