“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” — Don Juan Matus

Human beings possess an extraordinary capacity for sudden, radical transformation. Yet, most of us remain stagnant, trapped in routines, fears, and self-imposed limitations. According to the teachings of Don Juan Matus, the Yaqui shaman and spiritual guide from Carlos Castaneda’s works, the greatest obstacle to change is not ability, but perception—specifically, the assumption that there is always more time.

The Tyranny of “Later”

Don Juan taught that modern humans live under the spell of chronos—the linear, ticking clock that lulls us into complacency. We tell ourselves:

• “I’ll change tomorrow.”
• “When the time is right, I’ll take action.”
• “Someday, I’ll be who I truly want to be.”

But “someday” is a myth. Death, in Don Juan’s philosophy, is not a distant event but an ever-present advisor. He urged his apprentices to live with the awareness that death could come at any moment, stripping away the illusion of infinite time. Only then could one act with true urgency and decisiveness.

The Warrior’s Decision: No More Time

A warrior, in Don Juan’s terms, is not a fighter but a person of impeccability—someone who acts with full awareness and without self-pity. The warrior knows that change is not a gradual process but a decision made in an instant.

Consider how people transform in moments of crisis:

• A near-death experience shifts priorities overnight.
• A sudden loss forces a reevaluation of life’s meaning.
• A moment of clarity breaks lifelong habits.

These transformations are possible at any time—if we relinquish the belief that we have the luxury of delay.

Erasing Personal History

One of Don Juan’s most radical teachings was the idea of erasing personal history—freeing oneself from the weight of past identities. Most people define themselves by their past:

“I’ve always been this way.”
“I could never do that.”

But the warrior understands that identity is fluid. By dropping the story of who we were, we create space for who we choose to be in this very moment.

The Practice of Instantaneous Change

How does one cultivate the ability to change suddenly? Don Juan’s path offers key insights:

1. Act as if death is over your shoulder.
   • Would you waste time on resentment, fear, or hesitation if you knew your time was limited?
2. Break routines deliberately.
   • The mind clings to predictability. Disrupt habits to remind yourself that change is always possible.
3. Assume full responsibility.
   • Stop blaming circumstances. A warrior knows that power lies in the present choice, not external conditions.
4. Release the need for guarantees.
   • Transformation requires risk. The ordinary man waits for certainty; the warrior acts despite uncertainty.

The Moment of Power is Now

Don Juan’s teachings reveal a simple but profound truth: Change does not require time—it requires intent. The only thing standing between you and the life you desire is the belief that you have time to delay.

When that illusion shatters, even for an instant, the impossible becomes inevitable. The warrior does not hope for change—the warrior decides, and in that decision, is reborn.

Will you wait for someday? Or will you act as if this moment is all you have?