Physical and Mental Success in Training

[Spook]

Okay guys, I Know I have done this one before, but I still wanted to share it here because there are many new members that have not read it.


I. Introduction:



It is without a doubt that the human body is an incredibly complex, unique, and an ingenious organism. Yet, it would be an understatement of astronomical proportions to stamp the same description of the body to the mind. The mind is far more complex, unique, and it is an incredible mystery. The mind is able to function separate from the body, and, yet, the body does not function without the mind. Even in the most tragic of accidents when the brain has deceased there is a small remnant of brain stem that still allows the most basic of bodily functions to occur.



Nevertheless, the human mind is truly a force in nature to be “reckoned with.” The mind drives and shapes who we are and who we will become. A body that is in tune with a positive mind to reach its goal has harnessed a source of amazing power. It is estimated that people utilize roughly 10% of their brains’ function, and it is theorized that if 100% of the brain was used then that person would enter from a physical body and into a body of pure energy, limitless with power. The mind goes far deeper than merely the billions of nerve cells, the mind is more than just a brain…the mind goes into the conscious self. External stimuli that we face each day are factors in shaping the state of the mind. Imagine if Adolph Hitler was exposed to positive stimuli during the course of his life; perhaps he could have been a great humanitarian. Nevertheless, Hitler harnessed the power of his mind to become a charismatic leader who was so persuasive that he convinced his people that they were the master race. In light of history’s tragedies, Julius Caesar’s creed that “the end justifies the means” is not always true; ironically, it was the tribes of Germany that brought his empire to its knees.



How do you intend to better yourself? What means will you put at your disposal to reach your goals? Do you even know your goals? Do you know how to reach those goals? This first installment of the Mind and Body Connection as it relates to training will delve into the building blocks that will move you to success.

*** "Why is it that when I'm in deep thought I have the same look on my face as when I'm constipated?" ***

[This message was edited by Spook on 03-30-03 at 06:57 PM.]

[This message was edited by Spook on 04-13-03 at 10:25 PM.]

[Spook]

Ambition is sometimes considered as synonymous with desire and drive, but I would place ambition in the scope of things between desire and drive. Drive should be more associated with action whereas desire is more of a state of mind. For every aspect of our lives that we deem as important, we all want to be successful. No one ever truly awakens each morning and decides that he or she purposely wants to achieve the status of a failure even if that person consciously and habitually makes poor decisions that lead to failure. Some people have an uncanny knack for being successful in some areas of their lives and yet are complete failures in areas of their lives that count the most. Part of the focus in achieving success is not only succeeding in bodybuilding or competitive sports but also succeeding in your life as a whole. Core values will prioritize your goals and it will be your core values that will speak volumes about who you really are. You can be the greatest running back on the field, but if that is your core value that you prioritize the most then your fame will be neglected in light of passing from existence as a great athlete but as a friendless and loveless person that missed what mattered the most. I have heard the expression that you are exactly who you are when nobody but God is watching you. This is an excellent illustration or allegory to describe character, even when it is what you hide in your heart and only entertain it privately. Your character is the single greatest factor in shaping your core values.



For most people, success is an achievement that is earned through merit, while for others, success is highly desired to be given to them without merit (the wishing well phenomenon). For many that desire success they will develop drive or ambition to work for that success. Ambition is the fuel that keeps willpower’s coals hot and burning. Unfortunately, many others will remain at the wishing well and watch opportunities pass them by. Do not be fooled though; it would be perilous to convince yourself that you will succeed every step of the way. Sometimes there may be many failures (some you could control and some you cannot control) along your path to success, but do not allow failures to quench your ambition or will. Failures are nothing more than tools to use for your success. You must mark the failures and understand them so that you can still move forward with a more refined plan to succeed. It is a tenacity and determination (ambition) fueling willpower (action) that will persevere against setbacks and will ultimately win the prize.



However, winning or failing will strongly depend upon how the person sets out of accomplish his or her goals. In order to tip the scales that balance success and failure in favor of success, one must utilize the right tools. There are cornerstone tools of mental attitude with character and core-values as its foundation, and there are more analytical tools such as knowledge, wisdom, goals, and action. It is a mental attitude and values that will maintain the action until success is achieved.



First let us examine the foundation for the mental attitude. I will ask a simple question. When you have reached the end of your life and people open the book or the account of your life, how will you be remembered by them? Will you be remembered as a great athlete, or will you be remembered as a great person who was a great athlete? Never allow your desire to seek fame alone. As you shape your character, you will shape your core-values. From there you will ultimately shape your physique or athletic skills, and, ultimately, what kind of person you will be. You can be the greatest athlete in the world, but a good athlete who was admired and loved as a great person will be remembered and revered for all eternity.



Think of a pyramid in 3D and dissect it in parts. On the bottom you would find the conscience of who you are (i.e. your core values)and the remaining portions working up to the top of the pyramid as steps in our lives of prioritizing our lives from soul, character, and how we set our priorities for what we love the most. This is how I would define character; as being composed of the mind, body, and spirit (or the conscious self, brain, and body). The spirit receives and processes external stimuli to form a deeply rooted structure of how we understand and feel about our surroundings. The mind (or brain) will analyze and solidify this understanding and belief system in a positive or negative manner, or it will remain unbiased until later as more stimuli is received. The spirit will shape our thoughts and beliefs as our mind will delegate this to the body in some form of action. It can be easy to hide who we are inside but eventually the body will give us away and the resulting action will demonstrate our character to those around us. The example we set may be good or it may be bad, and that example will be external stimuli for others to process into their character. A perfect example of this is with parents and their children. Children learn by the example of their parents at a very young age and that belief system becomes reinforced throughout development. These children will often lead a life into adulthood that will mimic or mirror the character of their parents. This foundation of the character comes in full circle as our actions and system of thoughts exposes us to more stimuli and reinforces our spirit or conscious-self. It is a cause and effect system that can either make us or break us in any aspect of life and activities.

*** "Why is it that when I'm in deep thought I have the same look on my face as when I'm constipated?" ***

[Spook]

Core-values are the things that are important to us, whether it is family, religion, sports, partying, etc… the core-values are a reflection of character, and desires, priorities, and everything else that comes after that is a cascade of what that is to come. It is both fortunate and unfortunate that character can change. Character is not abstract; it is concrete. At any given point in time, character is exactly who you are.



Life should not be seen as a competition with others to be better than everyone else, rather, life should be seen as a competition with yourself to be the absolute best that you can be. The pyramid I had mentioned (I only wish I could display that pyramid here for you) above is your building blocks to a better attitude that will ultimately help you to achieve success.

How much longer do you intend to stand at the wishing well?

*** "Why is it that when I'm in deep thought I have the same look on my face as when I'm constipated?" ***