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Are you really “fit” if you don’t work out your mind?
Both weightlifting and meditation are “resistance training”.
In both practices we’re pushing back on forces that seek to move us, and in doing so we are strengthening our constitution.
The most important difference...
Both weightlifting and meditation are “resistance training”.
In both practices we’re pushing back on forces that seek to move us, and in doing so we are strengthening our constitution.
The most important difference...
is that weightlifting leverages our ego, and meditation does not. When we lift we we see progress with our eyes, we hear it in the compliments of others. It’s visible evolution, and the cause and effect is clear.
Our ego is useful in weightlifting to light motivating fires...
Our ego is useful in weightlifting to light motivating fires...
...and to inspire consistency. But experienced lifters know that you must temper ego, it or risk injury - either physical (musculoskeletal) or mental (dysmorphia).
In meditation, even the validation following a consistent practice is more or less internal. YOU will know...
In meditation, even the validation following a consistent practice is more or less internal. YOU will know...
...you will feel it. But the ego has no use for dedications so slow and invisible. Without external validation, the ego’s power to motivate is rendered impotent. Again here… discipline has the answer...
With each sit you inch toward operating more completely as your own mental point of origin. Your progress is not measured and observable by others in muscle size or definition, it’s the ease in which you can absorb her emotional storm without being effected by its weather...
It’s the space between your thoughts and your response. Eventually it’s the quality of your thoughts themselves.
In both practices, consistency and progressive overload are required.
With weight, we can adjust intensity by increasing weight, rep out, tempo, or...
In both practices, consistency and progressive overload are required.
With weight, we can adjust intensity by increasing weight, rep out, tempo, or...
...by decreasing rest periods.
In meditation we can adjust intensity by increasing length, or by meditating during times of increased mental stress.
Experienced meditators look at people who want to “meditate for 10 minutes when they’re feeling stressed”...
In meditation we can adjust intensity by increasing length, or by meditating during times of increased mental stress.
Experienced meditators look at people who want to “meditate for 10 minutes when they’re feeling stressed”...
...the same way an experienced lifter would look at a skinny fat newbie lifter walking into the gym attempting a 315lb squat. Why put yourself in a position to fail, and get hurt? For God& #39;s sake start small.
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Form is important in both. Newbie weightlifters don’t feel right holding the bar - they worry “they’re doing it wrong” - and they probably are.
In each practice, we need to spend time “sharpening the ax before we chop the trees” ensuring our body is in the right place...
In each practice, we need to spend time “sharpening the ax before we chop the trees” ensuring our body is in the right place...
to experience the stress… so it has a chance to begin understanding what it needs to do to resist it in a healthy way.
Weightlifting form means physical positioning, meditation form means structure, balance, and the path of breath.
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Weightlifting form means physical positioning, meditation form means structure, balance, and the path of breath.
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Atrophy occurs in both disciplines. A muscle without stress loses its function; which is to resist and overcome stress.
Similarly a mind constantly bombarded by stimuli loses it’s function (which is to adapt).
Similarly a mind constantly bombarded by stimuli loses it’s function (which is to adapt).
A mind without regular access to the absence-of-stimuli, will exert all it’s energy donating the bare minimum necessary to keep dozens of items (of varying priorities) afloat.
If mental fitness was as visible to others we wouldn’t let ourselves two days go by without meditating.
If mental fitness was as visible to others we wouldn’t let ourselves two days go by without meditating.
