Strengthening the Mind: Discovering the Inner Glacier
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Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
Welcome back to my journey as I navigate Day 12 of a 21-day mental fortitude program offered by Wahoo Systm. Today's focus is on a pre-sleep visualization exercise, where I will find myself in a meditative state, guided by a soothing voice encouraging me towards greatness.
Despite almost quitting this program multiple times, it’s not that I consciously chose to give up; rather, I didn't actively decide to continue. This experience has revealed that my habits play a significant role in my progress. Without establishing the right habits, I often struggle to push through the mental challenges presented in this training.
Section 1.1: Confronting the Desire to Quit
To be candid, today I felt like throwing in the towel. My enthusiasm for both mental and physical training was non-existent. Reflecting on the ten reasons motivating me to pursue this journey helped, but they aren't the true drivers behind my persistence.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Illusion of External Validation
‘Achieving the impossible’ isn’t my core motivation. Somewhere along the way, I learned to detach my self-worth from the validation I received through exercise. The traditional reward system, based on external recognition, is beginning to fade. Is dopamine the key neurotransmitter linked to social validation?
I briefly reviewed an article on attention's neuropharmacology, but it seemed more focused on internal attention mechanisms than on how we receive acknowledgment for our actions. While dopamine might play a role, I remain curious about the intricacies of this process. Perhaps it’s a gradual accumulation of experiences over time?
Neuropharmacology of Attention
Eur J Pharmacol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2019 Sep 15. Published in final edited form as: Early philosophers…
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
However, I ponder whether there exists a deeper aspect of my reward system that makes this journey worthwhile. It's akin to discovering a hidden glacier: concealed, dark, and stunning, awaiting exploration.
Section 1.2: The Role of Performance Tracking
I utilize a mobile app to monitor my workouts, though I often fall short of my goals. The focus on performance and visible achievements seems to overshadow the intrinsic value of my efforts. Society often equates success with worth, yet I struggle to see that connection. There are various forms of value that I have yet to fully understand, as I have not attained the necessary awareness. Nevertheless, I am dedicating 20 minutes each day to quiet reflection on a park bench, striving for greater insight.
While those performance metrics provide some indirect indication of progress, completing these exercises elevates my awareness. I find it challenging to articulate this entire experience. I once heard someone share their achievement of winning a marathon in Antarctica, which inspired me to contemplate undertaking an ultra-marathon in the Arctic Circle or even an Ironman. Yet, these pursuits seem to represent indirect measures of a deeper journey.
Chapter 2: Embracing Self-Discovery
The first video, "Day 21 Beginner Yoga Challenge - Plank it Out for Strong Shoulders!" focuses on building strength and resilience through yoga. This practice encourages us to connect with our bodies and harness our inner power.
The second video, "21 DAYS OF YOGA CHALLENGE in 12 MINUTES A DAY - DAY 1 - Happy New Year!" introduces a quick yet effective yoga routine to kickstart your journey towards mental and physical well-being.
As I reduce the length of my races and training sessions, I engage in a self-experimentation process, pushing the boundaries of my mind. What can I achieve? When you extend your hand and rotate it while spreading your fingers, you become acutely aware of your agency and connection to a life filled with profound mysteries beyond our digital existence. In those fleeting moments, we transcend mere performance and the unattainable expectations that burden us. Within us lies a power far superior to any supercomputer, intricately linked to every muscle in our bodies. That’s a significant amount of agency. How will you harness it?