Thursday, November 6, 2014

To be (virtuous), or not to be (virtuous), that is the question?


                                                      “We present and the world perceives”

 
Assume for a moment that you were presented two choices at birth:
One…you would grow up to be an extremely honest person, and help many people throughout your life… yet your virtue would go unnoticed.

Two…you would grow up to cheat, lie, steal, and do everything for personal gains, yet everyone around you would believe that you were the greatest person who acts only in the interest of others…you would be perceived to be virtuous.

Which outcome would you prefer?
This is a true dilemma that comes up in Plato’s “Republic”.  There was discourse between Socrates and Gluacon (Plato’s son) regarding living the virtuous life verses the perception of a virtuous life.  

Socrates stated, “It’s better to be virtuous rather than seem virtuous.”
Gluacon disagreed. He proposes a hypothetical of a person finding a ring that would make him invisible.  This ring would allow him to cheat, lie, and steal without anyone seeing him.  Due to his outward display of virtue, the masses loved him.

Glaucon’s hypothetical implies that people are only virtuous because they fear the consequences of getting caught…especially the damage of their reputations. (Think of politicians)
These people are more concerned with their reputation than their character.

Socrates argued that a just, reasonable person is what we should strive for… “If reason rules, then it cares about what is truly good, not just about the appearance of virtue.”
These people are more concerned with their character than their reputation.

Socrates went on to say… “Reason is our original nature, he thought; Passions often corrupt reason, but if we can learn to control those passions, our God given rationality will shine forth and guide us to do the right thing, not the popular thing.”

We do what we value?
Is Socrates’ proposition flawed by thinking reason is our “original nature”?

I would propose our original nature is passions, or drives, that are manifestations from our anxious ancestral past.  These early passions (needs) came in the form of safety, food, shelter, and sex.
In modernity, these passions are somewhat satiated; we now project these drives in the form of glutinous wealth and fame.  All of this is done in the guise of virtue.

These “perceived values” are easy to see in today’s society and are widely broadcasted on TV, in magazines, and on the internet.
The social network has provided the average Joe a great platform for self-promotion.  In an instant, we can create the illusion of fame and perceived value, which in reality, doesn’t exist.

What we value is what we create; what we create is what we idolize.
According to researcher Heinz Kohut… "Idolization is a developmentally appropriate response to being a “child"… and… "Adolescents engage in idolization in order to compensate for the narcissistic injury of the inevitable failure of one's parents to live up to their child's lofty needs and desires."

Unfortunately, this adolescent failure of “needs and desires” carries over into adult hood, creating the illusionary need of perceived value and virtue. 
Let’s admit it, in an age of images and entertainment, in an age of instant emotional gratification, in an age of self-indulgent narcissism, most (not all) will neither seek nor desire honesty or true virtue.

Virtue is doing the right thing because it is virtuous to do so.
Virtue is quiet and often goes unnoticed. 

Virtue is complicated.

Virtue takes work.
If the “perception of virtue” is what we admire, then the admiration of others is what we desire.

If “true virtue” is what we admire, then the admiration and respect for one’s self is what’s desired.


"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence... "

                                                                                    Frederick Douglass

 

                                

 

 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Transcendence


          “The reason you don’t change for long is because you have a set of beliefs that support     
                                        the person you are, not the person you want to be”     
 
What do I eat?
What is the best workout?
How much cardio should I do?
Being a gym owner and personal trainer….these are questions I’m asked frequently.
The answers I give are based on the latest scientific findings… but even so…they leave me feeling like the instruction is a little dishonest and incomplete.
Their questions are based on actions…therefore the instructions are based on “what” to do, rather than “why” we do it. So of course I tell them “what”.
But it’s of utmost importance that we understand….   The “Why” precedes the “what”.
Let’s be honest…We do what we do because we get something from it.
To change human behavior requires changing human cognition. Cognition comes first…behavior comes second.
So how do we change behavior?
It’s easy to look at external quick fixes (Workout…eat less)… but the reality is the solution isn’t external…it’s internal.
As Anne Lamott said it best…  "It's an inside job”
Trying a new diet plan or exercise program to resolve an overweight problem is like putting a Band-Aid over a Melanoma. We’re not addressing the issue.
Paradigm Shift:
Change occurs in steps…change is a process…change is developing a new paradigm.
Einstein once said
“The world we have made as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them.”                                                                                                     
There are three steps in a paradigm shift… (This is not limited to exercise and nutrition)
1. Awaken:
~ Rousing; quickening:
"An awakening interest in self"
~ A recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something:
"A rude awakening to the disagreeable facts."
To awaken is to acknowledge.  To acknowledge is to take ownership.  Every great journey traveled has begun with an awareness of self.
2. Intention:
~ A determination to act in a certain way:  resolve
~ Important, significance
~ What one intends to do or to bring about 
~ A process or manner of healing of incised wounds
~ Concept; especially:  a concept considered as the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge
Awareness of self clarifies intention…intention clarifies and directs the path.
3. Detachment
~ The act or process of separating something from a larger thing
~ A condition in which something has become separated from something else
Detachment is the unloading of what is…what one has become… in order to become what is…what one can become.  
Detaching is not letting go and losing…its untethering and gaining…its autonomy.
The Ultimate Goal
Transcendence
~ Going beyond the limits of ordinary experience
~ Far better or greater than what is usual
Transcendence is a shift in cognition that begins as a harsh, destructive process.
Transcendence is not something you achieve… It is the absence of something.  Throughout our lives we have been going forward after ( _________)… pursuing some goal….wanting a “fix”.  This method has us looking “there” all the while avoiding “here”.
Transcendence, ironically, is not about moving forward as much as it’s about going back.
It’s acknowledging the past to understand the present illusion of self.
It’s an exfoliation of the created ego.
It’s seeing through the façade of our false self…to clear the path for our true self.
Transcendence is not about an acquisition…it’s about eradication.
To Transcendence is to end the delusions to gain mastery over oneself and one’s destiny. It means the fulfilling of one’s full potential.
"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may use it the moment you learn to control your thoughts."                                                                                                                                    ~ Napoleon Hill
 
                           



       

 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Wal-Mart Wisdom


                                     "Claim truth where you find it” ~ Rob Bell                                                                                                                       

 Anyone who’s close to me knows that I take great pride in my psychological journey toward calming myself in emotional situations. The process of behavioral change has almost become addicting….
Change one thing about myself…. and then proceed on to another. 

But….even through all my Philosophy, Buddha, Tolle, and endless psychology readings, my ugly monster will occasionally reappear.
Especially at Wal-Mart!

To make a long story short…I went in to Wal-Mart last Sunday at 5:00 pm, only to come out at 7:00 pm.
Now you’re problem thinking, “two hours….that’s normal”….and in most cases that’s true…but for me, that was for a bag of Dog Food and one container of coffee.

The rest of the time was spent waiting 25 minutes at the sporting goods area…20 minutes at the jewelry department…and 25 min in the 20 items or less line…only to have the lane closed when I reached the checker.
"I’m sorry sir…It’s my lunch break”

At this point, there were not enough positive affirmations in the self-help world that could sooth the rumblings of my childhood beast.
I took a deep breath… and then proceeded toward the checker lines from hell.

There was a lady in front of me with Planet of the Apes’ tattoos all up and down her arm (of course Cesar was prominently displayed at the top).
In front of her was a small child of about 10 years old (this is sarcasm) jumping up and down in a buggy. His mom was frantically feeding him a package of sugary skittles to calm to down.

You guessed right…it didn’t work.
Amongst all this chaos, I couldn’t help but notice the checker. She was a small sweet looking lady with an extremely peaceful look on her face.

Throughout this whole process….. Kids jumping…..mothers with the wrong coupons….money change needed…. she never broke her smile.
I finally arrived at her station with my one bag of dog food and my one container of coffee and said, “Whew….I don’t know how you do it!”

She replied, “Do what?”…..she seemed very confused by my statement.
I replied, “Work in all this chaos”

She returned to her sweet little peaceful smile and replied, “It only affects you if you allow it”.
All I could say was thank you.

This “Aha” moment was a great reminder that real peace is being able to accept what is. Acceptance simply means recognizing your “ugly monster” voice and rejecting it.
Acknowledging that the only person we can change is ourselves enables us to do this.

There is a lot of negative energy and craziness in this world, but we can all learn to live with inner peace.  If your intention is strong and consistent… it will happen.
Outwardly, nothing changes… peace comes from within.

 
The Four Noble Truths of Buddha

~ Anguish…Life is Pain
~ Acknowledge…Acceptance

~ Cessation…Stop

~ New Path…Peace

 

 

 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Paradox of Truth


“People don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed” ~ Nietzsche

I am, by nature, a very caring, compassionate person, so I really hate to kick dirt on the flame of hope with science. But what I really care the most about is what’s actually true, even more than what I hope is true… and this is the dilemma I find myself in.
I am occasionally accused of being arrogant, sarcastic, cynical, jealous…. or the popular modern term, “hater”.

I have been told to be quiet… don’t say anything… you’re going to look like a trouble maker… let it go… and people aren’t going to like you.

My question is why?
Why should I be quiet…why should anyone be quite?

The typical response is usually…. “Because people will be offended”
Ricky Gervas said it best… “Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.”

I have to admit I completely agree.
I am a huge proponent of speaking your mind. I believe there should be absolutely no topic off limits to discuss.

The only way we evolve and enhance humanity is by strongly talking about what we believe and why we believe it.
If you disagree… then I think we should talk about why you disagree.

We don’t have to insult each other… we don’t have to agree with each other…but through critical reflection and rational dialogue we begin to move from a place of wishful thinking, into the arena of rational understanding.
I believe the only way to do this is by employing reason…the kind of reason that manifests in reality….the kind of reality that manifests from science.

Many people have a flawed belief that science strips life of meaning and purpose…it’s quite the contrary. Science cleans up our lives by providing a clear cognitive path to a much richer understanding of the world we live in.
I look at science as a temporal cleansing that enriches our reality, relationships, families, friends, communities, and how we treat one another.

All of us are trying to make sense of the world through a combination of our biology and our environment. This unique human combination tends to form biases based on experiences and emotions, which in turn can create beliefs that are based on hopes rather than facts.
Don’t get me wrong…I want to believe…but I also want to know. So if any proposition is made pertaining to Diets, Religion, Politics, Bigfoot, or Space Aliens…….ask questions.

The truth is out there…it may be hard to find… it may conflict with cherished beliefs…it may make you mad…but it is always better to face reality than to comfort ourselves with delusions.
Science may make you uncomfortable, but it is the best method for seeking the truth.

 
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool” ~Richard P. Feynman

 

 

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Suicidal Moths


"Men are conscious of their own desire, but are ignorant of the causes whereby that desire has been determined.                                                                                                                                                                                             ~Spinoza

 Insect:

It's tempting to ask… “What is the survival value of suicidal behavior in moths”… but that's the wrong question. Instead what we should ask is, “What's the survival value of having the kind of brain which, when there are candles about, causes moths to fly into them?”
In the wild state, when the moth’s brain was being naturally selected, there weren't any candles, and if you saw a bright light in the middle of the night it pretty well had to be a celestial object. It could be a firefly or something like that, but it was most likely to be the moon or a star, or, in a day-flying insect, the sun.

At optical infinity, when light rays are traveling in parallel, those rays provide an excellent compass. And it's well known that insects use light rays as a compass. They maintain a fixed angle… let's say 30 degrees, to a source of light. Well, if you maintain a 30 degree angle to the moon's rays, that's fine, you go in a straight line. But if you maintain a 30 degree angle to a candle’s rays, you'll describe a neat logarithmic spiral straight into the candle and burn.
So, now we have rephrased the question. The question is not, “What is the survival value of suicidal behavior in moths?” the question has become, “What's the survival value of maintaining a fixed angle relative to light rays?” And now we've got a sensible answer. In the case of the candle it's just a mistake. The environment has evolved (lights close to the ground) at a greater rate than the Moth ability to overcome its hard wired desires.

 (This analogy was proposed by Evolutionary Biologist Richard Dawkins)

Human:
It’s tempting to ask, “Why has the human brain evolved in a way that attracts us toward destructive behavior.”  Think about it…we spend more money than we make…we eat more food than we need…we lust after our neighbors wife?   What could be the possible benefit for human evolution to spend more, eat more, or lust more?

Maybe this is the wrong question to ask?
Humans have evolved over the course of millions of years. During this time, the selection process preferred individuals that were hard wired for consumption and procreation. It should be easy to see how these traits were beneficial (necessary) in the early development of man. The descent of man occurs when you pair these “hard wired” traits/desirers in the twenty first century environment.

Think about it… when a human’s brain was being naturally selected for, there weren't any credit card companies… and… if you saw a dead animal it was in your best interest to eat it….All of it!
The lustful tendencies of today’s humans seem just as confusing as the moth committing suicide in the flame.  After all…”you’re married…why would you lust after other women?” It seems confusing… that is until you consider the evolutionary purposes of having a strong sex drive in an evolving species.

So, now we have rephrased the human question.  The question is not, "Why has the human brain evolved in a way that attracts us toward destructive behavior?"
The question is, “What is the biological advantage for the human brain to have insatiable drives to consume?”

And now we've got a sensible answer. In order for early humans to flourish, the hardwired desires to consume are a must to perpetuate our species.
In the case of the destructive behavior in humans, it's just vestigial traits left over from our prior generations of early hominids. The environment has evolved (abundance of food, availability of sex) at a greater rate than humanities ability to control our hard wired desires in modernity.

Ironically…. if the hardwired traits inherited from a dangerous, barren world, are not controlled…. Humans, like moths, will fly into the flames.   

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Juvenile Sea Squirt


 "The juvenile sea squirt wanders through the sea searching for a suitable rock or hunk of coral to cling to and make its home for life. For this task, it has a rudimentary nervous system. When it finds its spot and takes root, it doesn't need its brain anymore, so it eats it!"
                                                                                                                          ~ Daniel Dennett

 
How often have we seen people wandering through the sea of life searching for meaning….searching for a suitable place to cling to and make a home for life.  For this task, he/she has a rudimentary need waiting to be satisfied. When these people find this place, they dig in so deep that discerning thought is no longer required. At that point, critical reflection and rational dialogue dies within them while they live….or should I say, while they exist?

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny


Ok…I know you’re wondering….. “What the heck?”
If you will, give me 227 words to explain.
I know we’re all pattern seeking creatures, but there is something that happens to me every time I listen to people speak, or any time I read a book.  I can’t help but see words/stories in metaphors.

An example….Someone said the other day, “we’re never there”…I immediately thought, “That’s because we’re always here…right here…right now.”
So where am I going with this?

I’ve recently been reading about bugs and parasites. Every sentence I read brings forth a new perspective about human behavior.  There are certain behaviors in other species that appear to be recapitulated (brief summary) in humans.

So this is where the title comes from. Let’s look at the definition….
Ontogeny - The origin and development of an individual organism from embryo to adult.

Recapitulates - To give a brief summary of something….to reiterate.
Phylogeny - the evolutionary history of a kind of organism.

( By the way, this theory has been disproven)
The easiest explanation for this hypothesis is that in developing from embryo to adult, animals go through stages resembling or representing successive stages in the evolution of their remote ancestors.

I would like to share 3 stories of different species behaviors (juvenile sea squirt, moth, and parasite) that appear to be recapitulated in humans.

Thanks for listening to my pattern seeking mind!

 

Sunday, June 29, 2014

"An Early Morning Walk"


 
                           “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day”
                                                                     ~ David Henry Thoreau

My early morning walk has been the same for the past 30 years.
I began by rising an hour and a half before my first client.
I then proceed to take a shower.
The shower is followed by preparing my breakfast.
My early morning walk is concluded by eating breakfast and reading 1 chapter from any given book.
Thoreau’s “walk” (for me) is a metaphor for the structure of our first waking moments.  For if our walk is calm and structured… most likely our day will be too.

It’s interesting how our early morning walk reflects our daily approach and attitude for the day….and for life.
What a blessing!
What’s your morning walk?  
 
  
              
 

 

  

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Beliefs


“To understand why a person believes as he or she does, one must understand why a person believes as he or she does, one must understand the person……Therefore, each person is presenting his subjective viewpoint rather than the objective “truth” about physical reality”
                                                                                                       ~ Protagoras 485-410 BC

 Our brains beliefs are a unique combination of our parent’s biology and our environment. We interpret the input from our environment which is guided by biological predispositions to make a model of "our" world.  
When we feel like our understanding of the world is successful at explaining these beliefs to our liking... we tend to attribute it to a non-biased, well discerned quest for the truth. We literally believe that we have constructed a worldview about the quality of reality and the absolute truth about reality.

The truth is... had we been born to different parents in a different country with a different culture, we could have easily come to a completely different understanding about the fundamental elements and concepts of belief.

Therefore, if two personally constructed worldviews or understandings accurately predict the same beliefs, one cannot be said to be more real than the other... rather... we are free to use whichever model is most comfortable to our own biology and to one’s cultural environment.
The truth is, when it comes to understanding the nature of reality in light of our hardwired biological tendencies and the views from our myopic environment, we are all ill-equipped to explain the absolute truth about reality.

                             “Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.”

                                                                                                                   ~ Yoda

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Hey! Need a Spot?


                                   “If it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you”

                                               
A lot of times in the gym you will hear the phrase, “do you need a spot?”
If you’re not an active lifter or have no gym experience you may not know what this term means.

Gym Spot:
A spot is the act of standing nearby in a “supportive” capacity as a person attempts a heavy lift where assistance might be required. The spot might include assistance in the case of failure to complete a lift… aid in bringing a heavy weight into starting position… or added lifting help for an intense trainee forcing repetitions beyond his or her own physical limits.

The perfect spot is to assist, but not to lift it for them. If too much “spot” is applied, the trainee will not receive the full benefit from the stress of the heavy weight.
The overcoming of the heavy weight is known as, “The SAID principle” by exercise physiologists.

The SAID principle is “Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand.”
By overcoming stress, the body adapts by being coming stronger. This allows the lifter to build upon past stressful workouts in a more tolerable manner for future stressful loads.

Life Spot:
If you’ve never been in a seemingly unbearable position in life, you may not know what needing a spot means.

A spot is the act of standing nearby in a “supportive” capacity as a person attempts to overcome a heavy burden in life where assistance might be required. The spot may include assistance in the case of failure to overcome a situation… aid in bringing an issue into a starting position… or added emotional support for a vulnerable person experiencing repetitive setbacks that may be perceived to be beyond his or her own psychological limits.
The perfect spot is to assist, but not to lift the heavy load for them.

If too much “spot” is applied, the person will not receive the full benefit of the specific adaptations that comes from the coping skills developed by the stress of the heavy load.
By overcoming stressful situations, the mind adapts by being coming stronger. This allows the person to build upon past stressful life occurrences in a more tolerable manner for future issues that may occur.

Conclusion:
Whether we’re spotting someone in the gym, or in life… it’s important that we are there in a “supportive” capacity that assists, and not enables.

It is of utmost importance that the spotter remembers that carrying or lifting the load for someone does not allow for an adaptation to occur, and therefore no lesson is learned. This type of spot is not service for the individual…..its self-service for the spotter.

So now you are prepared for the next time you see someone struggling.
Hey! Need a spot?

 
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

 

                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Step One


                    “It’s not that we can’t see the solution…it’s that we can’t see the problem”

                                                                                                                  ~G.K Chesterton

Step one is not about food.
Step one is not about exercise.

Step one is about You……yea that’s right……You.

Ironically You are the problem……. and….…You are the solution.
Food has no power…You do.

“We have met the enemy… and he is us” ~Pogo
The first step to change is acknowledgement.

Self-awareness precedes personal transformation.
Read that again… s l o w l y.

Self-awareness….… precedes…… personal transformation.
“You cannot change what You do not acknowledge”

“Get real with yourself about your life and everybody in it. Be truthful about what isn’t working in your life.  Stop making excuses and start making results.  If you’re unwilling to acknowledge a thought, circumstance, problem, condition, behavior, or emotion–if you won’t take ownership of your role in a situation–then you cannot and will not change it.” ~ Dr. Phil
“You do what You do because you get something from it”

What could we possibly be getting from over eating?
Why do we find it almost impossible to stop?

Why do we eat so much that it creates serious medical conditions that often result in death?
Why do we do it?

We do what we do because there’s a payoff……. yes there is J

Think about it…If there wasn’t a payoff You wouldn’t keep doing it…right?
So…What’s Your payoff?

Ok…….I will stop at this point.
There is a secret here…the secret is step one is the most important step. If you can master this step, You can take control of your life!

You might be asking, “Take control of my life?… That’s a big statement… I just want to control my body.”

And I would respond, “Yes… Take control of your life!”
Remember I began this topic with You… it’s about You!

Controlling your body is actually a paradigm shift that occurs in your mind…your body is a reflection of your thoughts/beliefs and actions that follow.  (Beliefs have consequences)
Changing You, changes everything.

Ok…get your pen and paper… (This is your homework…please…write it down)
1. I am responsible for me. (Acknowledgement)

2. What is the thing I would like to change the most? (Describe the behavior)
3. Why do I do it… What is the payoff? (Positive consequences)

4. What are the consequences?  (Negative consequences) 

(Notice the conundrum of 3 and 4…with every choice, a consequence follows. Maximize the positives, minimize the negatives)
See you in a little while for step 2!

“Today is your day, your mountain is waiting. So get on your way.”

                                                                                       ― Dr. Seuss

 

 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Introduction


A few days ago I promised to provide fitness information on my Blog. I was very excited to see the response.  However, due to the comments made pertaining to my post, I've decided to inform some of you that it may be preaching to the choir...and I don't want to preach to the choir.  I want to preach to those who have tried it all.  To those who have "had it", and to those who have almost given up.  I want to reach out to those who are ready, and to those who are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
The thing I'm excited about the most is that these people are at a point of “readiness to change.”  You’re not looking to argue or debate (that will come later), you're here to listen and learn.  You're open enough to understand that it may not be the food...it may not be gluten...it may not be that you have been cursed with bad genes.

You’re open to accept for the first time in a long time that it may just be you.
I've decided to provide you information in 3 steps.  Each of these steps will come in the form of a blog that is under 500 words - do you know how hard that is?  I'm doing it this way so that some of you will not waste your time (you can read it...proceed forward...or discontinue).

Each step will be revisited with a more in-depth discussion that will answer some of the questions that I have left open - this is an easy topic that is very complex...ironic huh?
Let me state up front that all of the information I will provide can be backed up with neural science, psychology, nutrition science, and exercise physiology.

I'm just pulling from all areas of science to paint a picture of the growing epidemic that many are facing living in a world of abundance.
I look forward to being of service and providing you information that will not only change your body, but change your mind.

"The greatest thing I can ever do is not what I can do to my body...but what I can do to my mind"