Inner Strength

[fetus]

I read this quote from something I wrote a few months ago, and it got me thinking.

It’s interesting what extreme conditions can do to a human. Not everyone is a great runner. But, if we were all being chased by demonic fried pickles, I can assure you that we would all find the strength to keep running longer than we would otherwise.

How powerful do you think inner strength and immediate necessity are on physical strength? Do you think we can use our own minds to access a part of us we wouldn't have been able to without a little mental prodding? If so, how does that even work?

 

[magpie]

Eh, as someone with a chronic illness, I am so wary of discussions about mental capacity overriding physical capability (or incapability). I mean sure, mind over matter, but at the end of the day you can only do what your body is capable of doing, no matter how hard you will yourself.

 

[Vorthos]

If I'm properly remembering what I've read, (and assuming it's accurate) the adrenaline provided in a fight-or-flight situation temporarily removes any mental blocks we have in place to keep us from injuring ourselves. When the blocks are gone, you're as strong as your muscles can physically allow without tearing. Any person who could just use their full strength at will would probably end up hurting themselves. But I bet it would be incredible until their muscles tore apart.

 

[ceecee]

I read this quote from something I wrote a few months ago, and it got me thinking.

It’s interesting what extreme conditions can do to a human. Not everyone is a great runner. But, if we were all being chased by demonic fried pickles, I can assure you that we would all find the strength to keep running longer than we would otherwise.

How powerful do you think inner strength and immediate necessity are on physical strength? Do you think we can use our own minds to access a part of us we wouldn't have been able to without a little mental prodding? If so, how does that even work?

I think it's very powerful. It's motivation - ask any athlete. I don't think people with disabilities of any kind are unable to harness the power of their mind and direct it to their bodies, either. You see that all the time. Here's a great example. And he is 7 years old.

 

[magpie]

And [MENTION=4050]ceecee[/MENTION] brings the inspiration porn. That was fast.

 

[ceecee]

And [MENTION=4050]ceecee[/MENTION] brings the inspiration porn. That was fast.

It's something I strongly believe. I believe it about myself, I raised my kids that way too. The body isn't what's needed to overcome obstacles, no matter what they are. It's literally all in your head.

 

[magpie]

It's something I strongly believe. I believe it about myself, I raised my kids that way too. The body isn't what's needed to overcome obstacles, no matter what they are. It's literally all in your head.

That's nice, but I'm not going to get into this with someone who would post a video of a disabled child to prove their point. My vague memory tells me you work in some sort of medical profession. I don't know if I'm remembering correctly, but I really hope you don't.

 

[fetus]

Thank you, [MENTION=4050]ceecee[/MENTION]! This actually directly applies to me right now; I'm trying to gather the motivation to start running again. It truly is all in my head, I'll tell ya.

 

[á´…eparted]

It's something I strongly believe. I believe it about myself, I raised my kids that way too. The body isn't what's needed to overcome obstacles, no matter what they are. It's literally all in your head.

I think the point she's trying to get at is there are some limits and walls that physicality can and does stop. Yes the mind can be worked past, I've done a lot with myself (with the help of others) that I honest to god thought I couldn't do, but once I stopped letting my mind get in the way, I zoomed. I've also found things that I can not force past no matter how much I try.

I agree with you, but I never take well to the "anything is possible!" speeches.

 

[ceecee]

I think the point she's trying to get at is there are some limits and walls that physicality can and does stop. Yes the mind can be worked past, I've done a lot with myself (with the help of others) that I honest to god thought I couldn't do, but once I stopped letting my mind get in the way, I zoomed. I've also found things that I can not force past no matter how much I try.

I agree with you, but I never take well to the "anything is possible!" speeches.

That's ok, I wouldn't expect you (or anyone) to. Everyone can use motivation of some kind at some points in their life. If you are in a coma then yeah, you're not running a marathon. If you have fractured vertebrata (like me) you can listen to the doctors and say - ok I can't be active anymore because they told me not to be. Or you can say fuck off body, you're not stopping me.

 

[magpie]

The point is that I was also raised to believe that if I just willed myself enough or tried hard enough I should be able to do anything. This was incredibly damaging to my ability to listen to what my body was trying to tell me. I hated myself for blacking out and having heart palpitations during martial arts and just assumed I was weak or not as good or not trying as hard as everyone else. So I continued the sport for years. And I guess since I didn't die, you could say it doesn't matter that I suffered at all. Because I was technically still able to, right?

I already was trying harder than anyone else. My willpower was great. But I still wasn't getting the same results as everyone else. I wonder what that means?

 

[á´…eparted]

That's ok, I wouldn't expect you (or anyone) to. Everyone can use motivation of some kind at some points in their life. If you are in a coma then yeah, you're not running a marathon. If you have fractured vertebrata (like me) you can listen to the doctors and say - ok I can't be active anymore because they told me not to be. Or you can say fuck off body, you're not stopping me.

Ok I understand. I think it's just a language/word choice thing. You're meaning not letting something weigh you down (the mind) and blowing past limits as hard as you can, saying to hell with the limits, and doing things in spite of it.

I was approaching it from a much more literal stand point.

 

[á´…eparted]

The point is that I was also raised to believe that if I just willed myself enough or tried hard enough I should be able to do anything. This was incredibly damaging to my ability to listen to what my body was trying to tell me. I hated myself for blacking out and having heart palpitations during martial arts and just assumed I was weak or not as good or not trying as hard as everyone else. So I continued the sport for years. And I guess since I didn't die, you could say it doesn't matter that I suffered at all. Because I was technically still able to, right?

I do not believe [MENTION=4050]ceecee[/MENTION] or anyone else is intending to minimize your difficulties.

 

[magpie]

I do not believe [MENTION=4050]ceecee[/MENTION] or anyone else is intending to minimize your difficulties.

Thank you, but they already have.

 

[sink]

Physical exertion and your mind need to be in balance, as all things. Most people don't push themselves enough when it comes to exercise. Some people push themselves too hard. One has to listen to their body and act accordingly, I think. That's the best way to go about it. Push yourself, but not so much that you feel bad about it for days after. Especially when just starting out, never go too hard on it; not only are you most likely hurting your body, you're also hurting your motivation in the long run.

This was also one of the things I struggled with quite recently. I pushed myself so hard in my workouts, my hormones got imbalanced. It freaked me out but it was also a big wake-up call. I took the rest I needed and now I'm back at it again, but this time listening to my body properly and not taking things too far. Find your balance between the two and stick to it.