Life is Very Simple

However, many people think the objective in life, is to make it very complicated -- but life itself, is very simple.

the objective of every life, is to be the best you can be.  That doesn't mean being the best one can be for somebody else -- or by any other standards but only the best by one's own standards, and how one actualizes them.  That is the meaning of life for everyone -- how well they live up to their own best actualization of it.  It doesn't matter what most people do -- or what everybody else is doing -- as long as one is following one's own path of discovering their own best actualization of life.

That gives meaning to the survival of the fit -- and the fittest.  If one doesn't do it for themselves, then nobody else will do it better for them.  It is something each has to do for themselves -- as their calling in life -- beyond all the other concerns and problems of their daily living.  It might be a job, but it is much more than that.  It is their total being -- in everything they do.

And that is what conditioning ultimately is all about -- preparing one for those attempts to be one's best.  But many have never learned to think that way -- of being at their best, because they were convinced they didn't matter and had no competence to think about such things for themselves -- but should follow some master plan thought up by others -- who know better, or presume they do -- when even they have not thought about anything for themselves, but merely went along, because that's what everybody else was doing.  

But if one is lucky in life, one gets to actually think for oneself -- on the many things others offer to do one's thinking for them -- invariably for their own benefit/advantage, and not necessarily one's own.  That too, is what they believe, "everybody does."  And so one of the great quests in life, is to find those who point out the truth of the matter -- and not just because it is to their advantage to have everyone else think so -- and become confused on the difference.  They may start out knowing the difference, but with practice, end up believing their own lies -- as the truth, and find themselves powerless to abandon that path -- that they have invested and dedicated their lives to.

Because that would mean starting all over again -- which they believe is the worst thing that can happen to a successful person in life -- rather than realizing, that the truth is always beginning all over again, because it is not dependent on tradition and conformity to make it so, but can be proven by every individual, in their own lives.  It is not the truth, just because many, or "everybody" says so -- but can be discovered anew, by a fresh and simple mind.  That is the attentive mind capable of infinite learning -- because it has no preconceived notions, of what the truth is.  It is an unconditioned mind.

 How can we get the mind into that state of openness so that it can learn the truth?  That is why it is important in doing one's exercises -- to rest -- as much as it is, to put out a maximum effort -- because it is the movement from from one condition to the other, that is the power to change, and know that difference.

Most people's conditioning, is to do only one thing -- either to put out the effort, or maximize the relaxation -- and not move easily from one to the other, which is the power to change.  And so they are only reinforcing the way they are -- instead of being able to change, into whatever is appropriate and suitable to the challenge.  Sometimes maximum power is desired, but also recognizing when to yield in the face of much greater power, conveys greater survival value -- which even the "king of beasts," must often do, if they wish to remain so for long.  

One need look no further than the instruction of the heart -- to know that its effectiveness and value in life, is that it simply moves from one state of complete contraction to the state of complete relaxation -- and back relentlessly, as the optimal way every muscle can be conditioned to function, and endure.  In no case, would one want that muscle to fail -- yet that is what many think is desirable to do -- produce muscle failure, and fatigue -- rather relieve it!  That is what one one's conditioning should desire instead.  How does one condition one's muscles not to fail?  That is the question.

And the answer to that is very simple -- alternating a full contraction with a full relaxation -- rather than a constant effort until the muscle fails.  And then to completely relax until one recovers again -- to produce muscle failure again, etc.  But simply lowering a weight is not resting -- as most people think is true, whether doing a bench press or squat -- because one is still putting out effort enough to support that weight, or the weight will crush their chest or cause them to collapse.  

So essentially, they are maintaining a near maximum effort (contraction) throughout the duration of that set (exercise), and then require a prolonged rest period to recover before they often repeat those efforts -- instead of finding a way they can continue (prolong) the movement, by alternating the rest and contraction -- that requires them to take a much lighter weight that allows them to feel relaxed, while finding a way to attain a maximum contraction without using an overly heavy weight -- that has very little to do with a peak muscle contraction, but everything to do with a sustained muscle contraction until its inevitable failure.

And that is why the body (muscles) fail -- rather than succeed at remaining vital for the duration of one's long life -- even in those who were "successful" in that way for a brief time much younger in life.  They ultimately have to fail in that way.  Nothing else is possible -- in that manner of training.  So one has to devise a new (different) way of training that takes into account that insight -- which is a very obvious and simple thing to do.  That changes everything.