It's here. Today is the final day of the scheduled Brodyssey. So it's time to see how it all added up.
Generally, first, I never skipped a workout, nor did I ever cheat on my meal plan. However, due to scheduling issues, I took one extra rest day, and due to an illness, I ate less than my prescribed calories one day. Barring these unavoidable caveats, the macros, sources and workouts were exactly as prescribed.
I did complete both big ass books. I did invest the time/energy into writing as I intended (minus my sad little sick day). I never missed a supplement.
So, on the whole, as an exercise in making goals and meeting them, the Brodyssey was a complete success.
On to the results. Physically first. My weight dropped from 197 lbs to 186 lbs. My waist grew from 33 in to 34 in. My cold bicep flex grew from 15.5 to 15.8 and my chest circumference changed from just over 45 in to just over 46.
My 1RM for every lift practiced increased, some (such as isolation lifts) increased by 20-30 lbs, others (primarily large compound lifts) increased by over 100 lbs. My deadlift, in particular, moved from 315 lbs to 430 lbs.
I, as well, as a few others, noticed that my physique became more tapered, and V-shaped down to the waist, implying a growth in the lats and shoulders. There is visibly more muscular definition in my stomach and quadriceps. There is more visible vascularity in my upper arms and forearms.
Approximate body fat percentage is now 13%, down from the original 16%.
What do these results mean? First of all, on the positive side, it means that it is indeed possible to lose fat while building muscle simultaneously, which is ground-breaking. It's huge for me, in particular, because genetics and personal commitment levels are different from individual to individual, so even though it might be more easy or more difficult for any other person in the world, it is, at least, possible when not on an illegal performance-enhancing drug.
Also, positively, myofibrillar hypertrophy occurred at a much higher rate than normal. I grew in strength very rapidly.
However, sarcoplasmic hypertrophy did not occur as quickly as I would have liked. Size gains did happen, but were marginal at best and negligible at worst (with the exception of the erector spinae muscles of the lumbar back, which added an entire inch of thickness to my waist even while losing more than ten pounds of fat, but is easily explainable since this program is the first time I tried a progressive overload system to the deadlift since I began lifting). At least I did not lose any muscle mass.
Bottom line: this training method, Hypertrophy-Specific Training by Bryan Haycock, does unarguably cause hypertrophy, but does so in a myofibrillar way much more efficiently. In terms of sarcoplasmic hypertrophy, other programs have demonstrated superiority with my body, including Sagi Kalev's Body Beast and Leo Costa's Big Beyond Belief. Use this program to get much stronger, but pick something else if you want to get bigger.
I never got tired of stews, and I never made the same stew twice. On the whole, I found myself less hungry during the day, more satisfied and energetic, and with the exception of my food poisoning incident with the downtown goose, with more vitality and healthiness. I attribute this mostly to the higher intake of saturated animal fat, and close adherence to a macronutrient ratio of 40% fat, 40% protein and 20% carbohydrate. When it varied, I made sure to take in excess calories only of fat or protein, not of carbohydrates. It also might have something to do with the organic nature of the food I made myself being my primary source of nutrition.
As the Brodyssey continued, I found reading and writing to be easier and easier. This may be due to the constant increase in reading and writing, or it may be because of the nootropic supplementation. Either way, I feel as though resulting story I've written so far, and the ease with which I finished this last book are tangible evidences of an improved memory, creativity and cognizance.
Even though the 30 days are over, some of these particular challenges are not completed yet. I haven't yet finished the second cycle of HST, and I will continue until it is done. It should end conveniently when I finish my bottle of Anabeta Elite. When it is done, I will take a week off of lifting, as prescribed by many sources, and then continue this bulk with a different program with a focus on sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.
I have not yet finished the story I am writing. It should take about seven more active days of writing to finish the first draft.
I will finish all of the current bottles of supplements I am on, before doing a short fast and starting a new cycle.
I will continue reading fiction every day, and nonfiction as often as I enjoy.
What did I learn? The most important things I learned came not from about any of the specific trajectories of improvement I chose, but instead from the very concept of reaching goals. The absolution of commitment, the unwavering discipline, and the uncompromising resilience that the human mind is capable of, are things that I am more familiar with. They are things I believe that all people should be more familiar with.
Most important takeaway: Any change you want to make in your life is possible, no matter how big or small it is. If I can do all of this crap as an experiment in a month, then you can do any one of them, or whatever else you choose to do. Decide to do it, make a plan, break the plan down, visualize the end, and take a small step every day, and you will get there, no matter what.
What happens next?
The Indeigogo campaign ends today for Virility Vitamin, and although we did not reach our goal, we did raise some money which is going directly to ingredient acquisition. There will be many more opportunities for donation, contribution and participation. I know that the money will be raised, and I won't give up until we get there. I have quite a bit more planned coming up in the future.
Speaking of the future, this blog will remain active, although there will not be a new post every day. I will continually update it about the company and the product and my own self-improvement journey which will never ever end. I will update it with supplement reviews, workout program results, diet ideas, book reviews, movie reviews, motivational insights, and a million other possible things aimed at the masculine pursuit of perfection.
I had a great time doing this, and I got a lot out of it. Thank you for staying tuned, and I hope you learned a little bit along with me.
The BRODYSSEY
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Day 30 - The Complete Hemingway
Working your way through a classic piece of literature can be extremely difficult. Sometimes the language is from a different period of time, not lending itself to an easy understanding. Sometimes, the themes are inspired by an unfamiliar feeling to you, like a war or revolution that happened before your life. The only way to develop the part of your brain that can digest a classic piece of literature, is to read more classic pieces of literature.
I'd like to consider myself more well-read than the average guy. I've chewed through a lot of the classics, Homer, Stoker, Dumas, Melville, by certainly not as many as I would like to. Even so, when I started this book, The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway - The Finca Vigia Edition, the first few stories were difficult for me to comprehend, with a few exceptions. The first story, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" spoke to me, so I didn't have a problem with that one. That aside, though, it was a different depth of constant reading than I was used to.
By the time I made it to the end, which happened pretty quickly, "Hemingway's Boat" had me all inspired, I found myself floating from the beginning of the stories to the end quickly and effortlessly.
Anyway, I got a lot out of these particular stories. Hemingway's themes and motifs have been sources of debate, praise and ridicule ever since they were first written. His style, too, uniquely his own at the time, inspired many many other authors after him, none of whom have ever been able, despite trying tirelessly, to replicate it.
He is sparse with adjectives. He uses nouns and connective words like "and" in lieu of further description. He sort of gives you the canvas and the brush and tells your imagination what to paint instead of painting it for you. In this way, he makes you a part of the world he creates. He also puts himself, in some version or another, into every story, so that you can recognize the real, human, mortal experiences his characters are going through.
Some of the stereotypes about Hemingway's writing that some of his non-readers hold, such as his fascination with death, violence, sex, and hunting/fishing, are certainly based on truth. The Hemingway stories contain tragedies almost always, but keep them in such a rational, masculine place, that you appreciate their inclusion each time. I, personally, having never particularly enjoyed tragedy in my media, have developed a new appreciation for it as a literary tool.
One of the most respected traits I found about the man in his writing, is his fearlessness in his topics and themes. The man, of course a masculine role model, and avid sportsman, was held in the highest regards as a hunter of the African plains and a fisher of the Caribbean seas. But, he like all other men in the world, whether they are secure enough to admit it or not, wrestled with harsh, horrible ideas, like mortality, unfair sexual stereotypes and even gender's sex roles.
Hemingway knew decades before his suicide that it would be he who ended his own life. He mentioned it several times. This was because the man was unafraid to look death in the face and make his own opinions about it. Hemingway wrote about sex and adultery with frankness and rawness. It wasn't always romantic in his stories, sometimes it was ugly and advantageous. He also touched on the topic of homosexuality and gender-switching. Some critics believe that Hemingway found a femininity in himself for which he was overcompensating by acting out in all of his masculine ways, his shooting, and boxing and drunken brawling. I disagree. Hemingway made peace with it in his writing, I believe. His poor son struggled with it much more than he did, unfortunately.
Every man who lends himself to thoughts of depth finds these struggles. Death and sex and tragedy and violence and adultery are horrid things sometimes, and sometimes they are beautiful. Hemingway found both in his stories.
On the whole, I believe that I have improved my own appreciation for literature, and for entire themes of entertainment. I have had to face scary ideas about death and gender and come out feeling more secure and fearless on the other side, which, I think, may have been Hemingway's intention. It is that fearlessness, that courage under fire, that made Hemingway such a masculine role model, and something we can borrow from him by enjoying his writing. His commitment was absolute. His adventures were legendary. His stores are timeless.
I highly recommend Hemingway's Complete short stories.
I'd like to consider myself more well-read than the average guy. I've chewed through a lot of the classics, Homer, Stoker, Dumas, Melville, by certainly not as many as I would like to. Even so, when I started this book, The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway - The Finca Vigia Edition, the first few stories were difficult for me to comprehend, with a few exceptions. The first story, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" spoke to me, so I didn't have a problem with that one. That aside, though, it was a different depth of constant reading than I was used to.
By the time I made it to the end, which happened pretty quickly, "Hemingway's Boat" had me all inspired, I found myself floating from the beginning of the stories to the end quickly and effortlessly.
Anyway, I got a lot out of these particular stories. Hemingway's themes and motifs have been sources of debate, praise and ridicule ever since they were first written. His style, too, uniquely his own at the time, inspired many many other authors after him, none of whom have ever been able, despite trying tirelessly, to replicate it.
He is sparse with adjectives. He uses nouns and connective words like "and" in lieu of further description. He sort of gives you the canvas and the brush and tells your imagination what to paint instead of painting it for you. In this way, he makes you a part of the world he creates. He also puts himself, in some version or another, into every story, so that you can recognize the real, human, mortal experiences his characters are going through.
Some of the stereotypes about Hemingway's writing that some of his non-readers hold, such as his fascination with death, violence, sex, and hunting/fishing, are certainly based on truth. The Hemingway stories contain tragedies almost always, but keep them in such a rational, masculine place, that you appreciate their inclusion each time. I, personally, having never particularly enjoyed tragedy in my media, have developed a new appreciation for it as a literary tool.
One of the most respected traits I found about the man in his writing, is his fearlessness in his topics and themes. The man, of course a masculine role model, and avid sportsman, was held in the highest regards as a hunter of the African plains and a fisher of the Caribbean seas. But, he like all other men in the world, whether they are secure enough to admit it or not, wrestled with harsh, horrible ideas, like mortality, unfair sexual stereotypes and even gender's sex roles.
Hemingway knew decades before his suicide that it would be he who ended his own life. He mentioned it several times. This was because the man was unafraid to look death in the face and make his own opinions about it. Hemingway wrote about sex and adultery with frankness and rawness. It wasn't always romantic in his stories, sometimes it was ugly and advantageous. He also touched on the topic of homosexuality and gender-switching. Some critics believe that Hemingway found a femininity in himself for which he was overcompensating by acting out in all of his masculine ways, his shooting, and boxing and drunken brawling. I disagree. Hemingway made peace with it in his writing, I believe. His poor son struggled with it much more than he did, unfortunately.
Every man who lends himself to thoughts of depth finds these struggles. Death and sex and tragedy and violence and adultery are horrid things sometimes, and sometimes they are beautiful. Hemingway found both in his stories.
On the whole, I believe that I have improved my own appreciation for literature, and for entire themes of entertainment. I have had to face scary ideas about death and gender and come out feeling more secure and fearless on the other side, which, I think, may have been Hemingway's intention. It is that fearlessness, that courage under fire, that made Hemingway such a masculine role model, and something we can borrow from him by enjoying his writing. His commitment was absolute. His adventures were legendary. His stores are timeless.
I highly recommend Hemingway's Complete short stories.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Day 28 & 29 - Roadblocks
I know. You got me. I didn't post yesterday. It hurts me too. I'd like to think I had good reason. I got a particularly nasty case of food poisoning. At a particular burger place downtown in the city I live, I had a burger with foie gras coating the bun. Oh lord, was it tasty. I mean, J. H. Christ, it was savory and delicious.
At first, I was ok. I was really tired, with mild nausea. It wasn't that bad. I did find myself susceptible to a certain kind of temptation like there was nothing wrong with me. Go figure. But as soon as I was sitting still, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like I vomited gallons, with just as much shooting out of every other hole I have. You're welcome for the visual.
I'm still hurting now. Not last night "I think I'm going to die, actually I hope I do, because that would be so much better than this" hurt, but enough to distract me from living my life.
But you know what? Here I am. Granted I have a hurting tummy, a body that is freezing and burning up simultaneously, a headache from the stone age, but here I am, writing this post. It actually plays into my schedule fairly well, since I was going to write about obstacles anyway.
And let me tell you, diarrhea is an obstacle. I didn't miss my workout yesterday, and I won't miss it tomorrow either. My food is still spot-on as well. All I've eaten is low-carb flax bread with some butter. You can't hold me down.
And that brings me to today's topic. When you've made a commitment, decided to accomplish a goal, what do you do when obstacles inevitably rear their ugly head to fuck up your pace and progress?
Answer: you don't stop. Ever. To paraphrase Thomas Edison: No, I didn't fail a thousand times, I discovered a thousand ways that didn't work. And for that, I'm grateful.
How you react to obstacles, roadblocks, detours, is completely up to you. If you give up because of the obstacle, then it wasn't the obstacle's fault. It was yours.
In fact, somewhere in this experience, I haven't found it yet, but there is a silver lining, a positive spin that will make me better. Until then, even if it doesn't come at all, which it will, I will keep going. Not a single thing in the world will stop me from reaching my goals.
Know how many times the Wright Brothers tried to fly unsuccessfully before they took off the first time? Me neither, but I bet you anything it was a fuck-bunch of times.
Don't give up. Ever. You'll be proud of yourself at the end. You'll figure out how strong and unstoppable you are, whether you crashed into the ground, or some bad dressing turned you into a goose-liver sprinkler.
At first, I was ok. I was really tired, with mild nausea. It wasn't that bad. I did find myself susceptible to a certain kind of temptation like there was nothing wrong with me. Go figure. But as soon as I was sitting still, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like I vomited gallons, with just as much shooting out of every other hole I have. You're welcome for the visual.
I'm still hurting now. Not last night "I think I'm going to die, actually I hope I do, because that would be so much better than this" hurt, but enough to distract me from living my life.
But you know what? Here I am. Granted I have a hurting tummy, a body that is freezing and burning up simultaneously, a headache from the stone age, but here I am, writing this post. It actually plays into my schedule fairly well, since I was going to write about obstacles anyway.
And let me tell you, diarrhea is an obstacle. I didn't miss my workout yesterday, and I won't miss it tomorrow either. My food is still spot-on as well. All I've eaten is low-carb flax bread with some butter. You can't hold me down.
And that brings me to today's topic. When you've made a commitment, decided to accomplish a goal, what do you do when obstacles inevitably rear their ugly head to fuck up your pace and progress?
Answer: you don't stop. Ever. To paraphrase Thomas Edison: No, I didn't fail a thousand times, I discovered a thousand ways that didn't work. And for that, I'm grateful.
How you react to obstacles, roadblocks, detours, is completely up to you. If you give up because of the obstacle, then it wasn't the obstacle's fault. It was yours.
In fact, somewhere in this experience, I haven't found it yet, but there is a silver lining, a positive spin that will make me better. Until then, even if it doesn't come at all, which it will, I will keep going. Not a single thing in the world will stop me from reaching my goals.
Know how many times the Wright Brothers tried to fly unsuccessfully before they took off the first time? Me neither, but I bet you anything it was a fuck-bunch of times.
Don't give up. Ever. You'll be proud of yourself at the end. You'll figure out how strong and unstoppable you are, whether you crashed into the ground, or some bad dressing turned you into a goose-liver sprinkler.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Day 27 - H2O
Some of the things I learn as I dig around in the world of health and fitness are just so stupidly intuitive that you wonder what the fuck some people were thinking when they let that information get buried under everything else they know.
I'm kind of a hypocrite for saying that, because I have quite a bit of trouble with this as well, but I might as well change my life in this way also, since I'm living that kind of lifestyle and acting so crazy.
As it turns out, your body needs water. Go figure, right? We're only made of the stuff. Scientists estimate that the human body is made of around 70% water.
But we're so afraid of it. We try to put a bunch of shit in it, flavors and extra stuff, and as it turns out, we make it nearly useless by doing so.
Before I get to what it does for the body, I'd like to talk a little bit about the state of the public opinion of water consumption in this country. First of all, after recognizing how vital it is to living (and living optimally) I wonder why the hell we have to pay for it. We don't have to pay for air. Shit, I said that now. The NSA will probably report that brilliant idea to the administration and soon "air bill" deductions will fill everyone's IRS reports.
This may come as a surprise, but not too many decades ago, we DIDN'T have to pay for access to clean water. I'm pretty sure it was one of those inalienable rights we had as a human. We got air, water and not to die, and that was about it. But today, it seems as though its in short supply.
The whole bottled water industry is built on a bet on human stupidity. The first bottled water company started by the owner betting someone else that the average human is so stupid, that he could actually sell them water in a bottle, which was a preposterous notion at the time. You might recognize the name of the company. They still bottle water today. It's Evian. Try flipping that word around and figure out how the owner feels about the consumers. Here, let me do that for you:
E V I A N
N A I V E
Anyway, off of that soapbox, the vast majority of people in America have much lower water intakes than they need to function at their best. Especially if you follow this blog and are a fitness hobbyist or bodybuilder, or just anyone who wants to change their body composition for the better, really large quantities of water intake is necessary to you. Bear in mind, I say "really large" in comparison to how much you probably drink a day, which statistics say is an average of 8 oz., which is less than a can of coke. You should be having a gallon a day. If you are trying to build muscle or burn fat, then you might want to kick that number up to a gallon and a half. And I don't mean just liquids, I mean pure, unflavored, unsweetened, H20. If you add sugar, or flavoring, then the body doesn't immediately recognize it as water, and the absorption drops from 100% down to around 20%. In fact, some drinks, like soda, coffee, or alcohol, actually rob your body of what water you already have, causing you to dehydrate, and even store excess water on your belly like some kind of weird, fat, backward camel.
Bottom line, you need to drink more water. Here's why:
This is something I struggle with. I do love me some Coke Zero. (sponsor) But starting today, I will be having at least a gallon a day, and I'll aim for a gallon and a half. 12 16 oz bottles will get me to 192 oz which is 1.5 gallons for you mathematically impaired readers.
I will have a gallon a day, unquestionably. I have decided. Somebody stop me. See what happens.
I'm kind of a hypocrite for saying that, because I have quite a bit of trouble with this as well, but I might as well change my life in this way also, since I'm living that kind of lifestyle and acting so crazy.
As it turns out, your body needs water. Go figure, right? We're only made of the stuff. Scientists estimate that the human body is made of around 70% water.
But we're so afraid of it. We try to put a bunch of shit in it, flavors and extra stuff, and as it turns out, we make it nearly useless by doing so.
Before I get to what it does for the body, I'd like to talk a little bit about the state of the public opinion of water consumption in this country. First of all, after recognizing how vital it is to living (and living optimally) I wonder why the hell we have to pay for it. We don't have to pay for air. Shit, I said that now. The NSA will probably report that brilliant idea to the administration and soon "air bill" deductions will fill everyone's IRS reports.
This may come as a surprise, but not too many decades ago, we DIDN'T have to pay for access to clean water. I'm pretty sure it was one of those inalienable rights we had as a human. We got air, water and not to die, and that was about it. But today, it seems as though its in short supply.
The whole bottled water industry is built on a bet on human stupidity. The first bottled water company started by the owner betting someone else that the average human is so stupid, that he could actually sell them water in a bottle, which was a preposterous notion at the time. You might recognize the name of the company. They still bottle water today. It's Evian. Try flipping that word around and figure out how the owner feels about the consumers. Here, let me do that for you:
E V I A N
N A I V E
Anyway, off of that soapbox, the vast majority of people in America have much lower water intakes than they need to function at their best. Especially if you follow this blog and are a fitness hobbyist or bodybuilder, or just anyone who wants to change their body composition for the better, really large quantities of water intake is necessary to you. Bear in mind, I say "really large" in comparison to how much you probably drink a day, which statistics say is an average of 8 oz., which is less than a can of coke. You should be having a gallon a day. If you are trying to build muscle or burn fat, then you might want to kick that number up to a gallon and a half. And I don't mean just liquids, I mean pure, unflavored, unsweetened, H20. If you add sugar, or flavoring, then the body doesn't immediately recognize it as water, and the absorption drops from 100% down to around 20%. In fact, some drinks, like soda, coffee, or alcohol, actually rob your body of what water you already have, causing you to dehydrate, and even store excess water on your belly like some kind of weird, fat, backward camel.
Bottom line, you need to drink more water. Here's why:
- Water keeps you from being dehydrated. This may seem like a no-brainer, but lack of water can do some horrible shit to you. Headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and even death can be caused from a lack of water.
- Almost all body functions occur on water's back. More equals better body functionality.
- Water is essential for digestion, chemical reactions and absorption of nutrients.
- Water transports waste material from your body.
- Water is necessary for circulation. You are more well oxygenated with enough water.
- Waters removes toxins from the body.
- Water keeps the body cooler, more efficiently.
- Here is what you were waiting for: Water causes you to store less fat, retain less excess water, and build muscle faster.
This is something I struggle with. I do love me some Coke Zero. (sponsor) But starting today, I will be having at least a gallon a day, and I'll aim for a gallon and a half. 12 16 oz bottles will get me to 192 oz which is 1.5 gallons for you mathematically impaired readers.
I will have a gallon a day, unquestionably. I have decided. Somebody stop me. See what happens.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Day 26 - The Power of Decision
I want to check in on you today. How is your New Year Resolution going? Statistics say that most of you have given up by now. You've gotten distracted; you've returned to what's normal and comfortable and let go of the end goal, and therefore have lost what progress you've made.
What's the difference between the people who have given up and the people who are still going? I am willing to bet that it all comes to down to the level of commitment. The people who are still going, still making gainz, still reading, still writing, still abstaining, whatever, are doing so NOT because they are smarter, fitter, wealthier, a particular racial/sexual/ethnic/religious group, they are doing so BECAUSE they made a decision.
They decided, without compromise, what was going to happen. When they made a change, they didn't offer themself a suggestion, they didn't hope, they didn't wish, they didn't say "man, it sure would be nice if (whatever the fuck) could be different, maybe I'll try," they said "listen up, world, this is the way it's going to be from now on, and you can try and stop me, but I'll mess you up."
The human brain is a phenomenal machine, capable of things beyond imagination. For those of you who don't know what the mind can do, try a quick google search of neuro-immunology, or what the monks who practice Tum-mo meditation can do with their bodies. What else explains the 30% success rate of placebo?
All of the great things in history, all of the people who changed the world, or created something new, or overcame seemingly irresistible obstacles, or left their mark on mankind, did so because they harnessed this incredible power that comes from a mind made up.
Anthony Robbins is always talking about "the Giant within" and the "power" inside your mind. He postulates that if you were to focus your mind 100% on any ONE goal, that you would accomplish it, no questions asked. I'm inclined to believe him, as there are thousands of people in the world who say his motivational speaking and writing has changed their lives.
Try this little exercise. I've had a lot of fun with this one. Ask your brain a question. It doesn't have to be something crazy, just like "what should I eat for lunch tomorrow?" or "what crazy story would I write in a journal if I had one?" and then move on. Don't allow yourself to get frustrated over not knowing the answer. Be excited that it will come to you. Then live your life, holding that question in your head. Focus on it as you drive, as you cook, as you fold clothes, as you watch T.V., and soon, you will be amazed by the brain coming to you and answering the question for you.
Your brain stores everything that ever happened to you. Your brain is capable of performing mathematical/logical/rational work that even some of the supercomputers of the world struggle with, but all of this is right under the surface. You use it by focus.
I dare you. Pick a goal. Hold it in your head. Visualize the end result. Ask your brain how to do it. Then decide that you WILL accomplish it, no matter what. Don't accept no for an answer. Don't let your brain believe that giving up is an option, and it won't be. Your mind will twist the circumstances around until you know exactly what to do.
It's an unstoppable force. Use it.
What's the difference between the people who have given up and the people who are still going? I am willing to bet that it all comes to down to the level of commitment. The people who are still going, still making gainz, still reading, still writing, still abstaining, whatever, are doing so NOT because they are smarter, fitter, wealthier, a particular racial/sexual/ethnic/religious group, they are doing so BECAUSE they made a decision.
They decided, without compromise, what was going to happen. When they made a change, they didn't offer themself a suggestion, they didn't hope, they didn't wish, they didn't say "man, it sure would be nice if (whatever the fuck) could be different, maybe I'll try," they said "listen up, world, this is the way it's going to be from now on, and you can try and stop me, but I'll mess you up."
The human brain is a phenomenal machine, capable of things beyond imagination. For those of you who don't know what the mind can do, try a quick google search of neuro-immunology, or what the monks who practice Tum-mo meditation can do with their bodies. What else explains the 30% success rate of placebo?
All of the great things in history, all of the people who changed the world, or created something new, or overcame seemingly irresistible obstacles, or left their mark on mankind, did so because they harnessed this incredible power that comes from a mind made up.
Anthony Robbins is always talking about "the Giant within" and the "power" inside your mind. He postulates that if you were to focus your mind 100% on any ONE goal, that you would accomplish it, no questions asked. I'm inclined to believe him, as there are thousands of people in the world who say his motivational speaking and writing has changed their lives.
Try this little exercise. I've had a lot of fun with this one. Ask your brain a question. It doesn't have to be something crazy, just like "what should I eat for lunch tomorrow?" or "what crazy story would I write in a journal if I had one?" and then move on. Don't allow yourself to get frustrated over not knowing the answer. Be excited that it will come to you. Then live your life, holding that question in your head. Focus on it as you drive, as you cook, as you fold clothes, as you watch T.V., and soon, you will be amazed by the brain coming to you and answering the question for you.
Your brain stores everything that ever happened to you. Your brain is capable of performing mathematical/logical/rational work that even some of the supercomputers of the world struggle with, but all of this is right under the surface. You use it by focus.
I dare you. Pick a goal. Hold it in your head. Visualize the end result. Ask your brain how to do it. Then decide that you WILL accomplish it, no matter what. Don't accept no for an answer. Don't let your brain believe that giving up is an option, and it won't be. Your mind will twist the circumstances around until you know exactly what to do.
It's an unstoppable force. Use it.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Day 25 - Heroes
In Robert Bly's learned and enlightened book, "Iron John," in which he uses Jungian principles to analyze the old Grimm fairy tale of the same name, he makes powerful contentions about the development of man in the United States. He laments the absence of a male "initiation" and talks of the growing ocean between fathers and sons. In older cultures, boys would be taken away from their parents and be given a physical, mental and spiritual education, a baptism by fire, with other men. In some more recent cultures, the father is involved as an educator and spiritual leader, but there is still a strong masculine presence required for healthy growth and manhood.
Unfortunately, as both Bly and Dr. Robert Glover in his book, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," they find that the modern man has been pushed away from masculinity, and shamed from his manhood, and is underdeveloped as a man, and so becomes a "nice guy" who is sweet and passive, giving all of himself for no return, in hopes that someone will give him validation or respect (which never happens) he lives his whole life being denied, shamed, pushed, until his middle years and later when he is dull, emotionally broken and numb, and abandoned by the others in his life, particularly the women.
There isn't really a place for boys (and men looking to better themselves also) to find that extra-familial, external, masculine influence in today's America. In the military, drill sergeants play a role that harkens to it, but is a poor facsimile in that the military only cares about the physical fitness of the soldier and that he obeys orders, not that he becomes a mentally, spiritually, emotionally healthy man.
For myself, and I think a lot of people out there, I found a way that allows me to create external pivots and inspirations, role models and motivators, but also requires vigilance and responsibility.
I am a firm believer in heroes. I think it is no wonder that strong male characters in movies, books, comics, video games attract so much attention and legacy among modern men. Where else are we getting a good example of what a healthy, happy, virile, masculine man is like?
There is a point in young male life, when a boy finds a hero and tries to emulate him exactly. It is very important for parents and societies to monitor over who the boys choose, and be sure to provide good, healthy examples of masculinity. He can't be too soft or passive, nor can he be overly-violent and irrational.
Vladimir Putin has, in my opinion, been providing a good public example of what masculinity, checked and tempered, looks like. He is not overtly violent, yet he allows himself to do virile, manly, powerful things. He allows himself to be photographed doing things that are not only extremely masculine, but are also things that require years of dedication, discipline and focus to accomplish, such as piloting a jet, fly-fishing, or wrestling bears. In this way, (despite all of the unsavory, illicit things he may be doing behind the curtain) he has become a good father figure for all the men of Russia.
In our country, however, we don't have that kind of praised masculinity. Ours is stomped out and shamed away, for in terms of civil rights and social evolution, there has been a sea change since the 1960s (arguably the 1940s) and there might not be a healthy conclusion for decades to come.
Since I am not given heroes, I go out and find heroes and role models everywhere, and when I find them, I internalize them, take parts from them that I want for myself, give respect to who and what they are and move on.
I'd like to share a few of mine (coming from history, literature, movies, even comics) to give you some examples:
Theodore Roosevelt overcame his weak, sickly origins to become one of the manliest, most successful (debatably) and memorable presidents this country has ever had. He made a habit of meeting goals, breaking obstacles, fixing problems, and doing it all with a manly vigor and swagger. (see: Theodore Rex at Amazon)
Ernest Hemingway displayed both a spirit of adventure and masculine creativity, turning his desire for a manly realization into the seeds that grew into Nobel-prize winning literature.
Sherlock Holmes is known for his incredibly sharp mind, memory and inductive skills. He is a marvelous example of the power that comes when a man focuses on a goal and skill so extremely that he lives it.
Superheroes are easy examples. Superman is a self-sacrificing force of absolute good, the same archetype as Jesus the Christ or Krishna as a role model. The Batman is a complete display of abstinence in the face of goal-reaching, just like the Buddha. Right now, I am spending quite a bit of time thinking about Marvel's Thor. Chris Hemsworth's Thor in the current Avengers movies is awesome, but he is not the same character that reads in the stories. The current Marvel NOW! Thor title, "God of Thunder," may be one of the best comics I've ever read. It shows Thor from the past, present, and future. In the past, Thor is strong, virile, sexual, and cocky. In the future, Thor is majestic, regal, stern and fatherly. In the present, Thor is responsible, jovial, extroverted, and inexorable in his decision-making and goal-meeting. One of the things that the three Thors share that I find to be particularly inspiring, is their willingness to make a decision, to give their word, to be supremely confident that they will accomplish that goal, and be true to their word, and be happy and brag about the results. It feels very right, very masculine to me. I take that with me as I grow into a better man.
The identity of the heroes in your life can be the most beneficial influence to you, or the most destructive. Take caution to watch who you emulate and learn from. Go out into the world and find men that inspire you, that make you better, that make you less ashamed to be a man, and more happy to be alive.
Unfortunately, as both Bly and Dr. Robert Glover in his book, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," they find that the modern man has been pushed away from masculinity, and shamed from his manhood, and is underdeveloped as a man, and so becomes a "nice guy" who is sweet and passive, giving all of himself for no return, in hopes that someone will give him validation or respect (which never happens) he lives his whole life being denied, shamed, pushed, until his middle years and later when he is dull, emotionally broken and numb, and abandoned by the others in his life, particularly the women.
There isn't really a place for boys (and men looking to better themselves also) to find that extra-familial, external, masculine influence in today's America. In the military, drill sergeants play a role that harkens to it, but is a poor facsimile in that the military only cares about the physical fitness of the soldier and that he obeys orders, not that he becomes a mentally, spiritually, emotionally healthy man.
For myself, and I think a lot of people out there, I found a way that allows me to create external pivots and inspirations, role models and motivators, but also requires vigilance and responsibility.
I am a firm believer in heroes. I think it is no wonder that strong male characters in movies, books, comics, video games attract so much attention and legacy among modern men. Where else are we getting a good example of what a healthy, happy, virile, masculine man is like?
There is a point in young male life, when a boy finds a hero and tries to emulate him exactly. It is very important for parents and societies to monitor over who the boys choose, and be sure to provide good, healthy examples of masculinity. He can't be too soft or passive, nor can he be overly-violent and irrational.
Vladimir Putin has, in my opinion, been providing a good public example of what masculinity, checked and tempered, looks like. He is not overtly violent, yet he allows himself to do virile, manly, powerful things. He allows himself to be photographed doing things that are not only extremely masculine, but are also things that require years of dedication, discipline and focus to accomplish, such as piloting a jet, fly-fishing, or wrestling bears. In this way, (despite all of the unsavory, illicit things he may be doing behind the curtain) he has become a good father figure for all the men of Russia.
In our country, however, we don't have that kind of praised masculinity. Ours is stomped out and shamed away, for in terms of civil rights and social evolution, there has been a sea change since the 1960s (arguably the 1940s) and there might not be a healthy conclusion for decades to come.
Since I am not given heroes, I go out and find heroes and role models everywhere, and when I find them, I internalize them, take parts from them that I want for myself, give respect to who and what they are and move on.
I'd like to share a few of mine (coming from history, literature, movies, even comics) to give you some examples:
Theodore Roosevelt overcame his weak, sickly origins to become one of the manliest, most successful (debatably) and memorable presidents this country has ever had. He made a habit of meeting goals, breaking obstacles, fixing problems, and doing it all with a manly vigor and swagger. (see: Theodore Rex at Amazon)
Ernest Hemingway displayed both a spirit of adventure and masculine creativity, turning his desire for a manly realization into the seeds that grew into Nobel-prize winning literature.
Sherlock Holmes is known for his incredibly sharp mind, memory and inductive skills. He is a marvelous example of the power that comes when a man focuses on a goal and skill so extremely that he lives it.
Superheroes are easy examples. Superman is a self-sacrificing force of absolute good, the same archetype as Jesus the Christ or Krishna as a role model. The Batman is a complete display of abstinence in the face of goal-reaching, just like the Buddha. Right now, I am spending quite a bit of time thinking about Marvel's Thor. Chris Hemsworth's Thor in the current Avengers movies is awesome, but he is not the same character that reads in the stories. The current Marvel NOW! Thor title, "God of Thunder," may be one of the best comics I've ever read. It shows Thor from the past, present, and future. In the past, Thor is strong, virile, sexual, and cocky. In the future, Thor is majestic, regal, stern and fatherly. In the present, Thor is responsible, jovial, extroverted, and inexorable in his decision-making and goal-meeting. One of the things that the three Thors share that I find to be particularly inspiring, is their willingness to make a decision, to give their word, to be supremely confident that they will accomplish that goal, and be true to their word, and be happy and brag about the results. It feels very right, very masculine to me. I take that with me as I grow into a better man.
The identity of the heroes in your life can be the most beneficial influence to you, or the most destructive. Take caution to watch who you emulate and learn from. Go out into the world and find men that inspire you, that make you better, that make you less ashamed to be a man, and more happy to be alive.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Day 24 - Boy Things
Sometimes, when you're a guy, you have to go hang out with the guys, and do guy things.
My big brother lives with me here in this city, but he is older, married and has a kid, so I can't see him much, and when I do, he has his wife and kid with him. (Not a problem, I love you, sis!) We don't really get to get together much and do boy things.
My three or four best guy friends live in another city, and although we still communicate every day via text or facebook, we only get together once or twice a month in person.
Where I live, I don't really get any time to be social and let off steam with other guys. Some people might consider that growing up, but I don't know. I may be a bit of a hedonist, but in my experience, if it feels good, and I crave it, then there is probably a reason that I should be partaking in it.
A few weeks back, I was starting to feel myself get into a rut. It happens sometimes; work gets overwhelming, relationship grow tired or strained, the weather may be funky, there are millions of reasons that the average resonating emotional level may dip. (It may even be the much alluded to man-struation) But for whatever reason, things weren't looking up naturally as they tend to do for me.
At the same time, it was grating on me that it had been a long time since I have spent some quality, in-person time with my guy friends, just shooting the shit and doing boy things. I hadn't put these two facts together in my head quite yet, but don't worry, I got there eventually.
I went to go see my friends, and of course, had a great time. We didn't break any laws, but we behaved like hooligans, obnoxiously, and let a little bit of our natural testosterone-ignited belligerence out. It felt great, like it always did. And when I returned, I found an emotional strength and resilience that I had temporarily lost.
It occurred to me then that it was important that I should seek out bro-time because it was obviously healthy for my mood and, by extension, my hormonal health. I did a little bit of research.
Several studies, example, have shown that it is beneficial to a man's mental health to get together with other guys (small group of around four) and just "do things."
My friends and I like to speculate that it is testosterone pheromones in the air, infusing and creating a positive feedback loop of masculinity, which is probably true to some degree, but for the most part, it may just be the power of connecting closely and intimately with another person. Other theories is that a group such as this is the perfect incubator for laughter, emotional expression and candidness, which multiple studies have determined conclusively have a magical effect on mental health, physical health and even alleviate symptoms of depression.
The stress-relieving time spent with other guys can be any sort of thing, most studies cite activities like playing/watching sports, getting some beers at a pub and complaining about the women in their lives, or just chilling on the couch and playing a round of Halo.
Regardless, the benefits are immediately obvious, statistically supported, and anecdotally effective. I have resolved to go out of my way to spend extra time in person with my guy friends, and so should you.
Sometimes you have to go out with the boys and do boy things.
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