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Do you view your talent, skill and intelligence as something that can be improved upon or do you view it as something that is innate? How you answer that question will make or break you!
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What I've Been Thinking About...
We had an interesting talk this week at the gym with some of the kids about whether or not they would rather look cool or be cool. The way to define "cool" varies but my response when asked was similar to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's remark in the sixties regarding obscenity in film: "I know it when I see it". Surprisingly, in what I thought would be a slam dunk win for "Be Cool", "Look Cool" ended up getting about half of the votes. This frustrated me a bit. Kids put a lot of pressure on themselves to look the part. They make decisions with others in mind rather than doing what they feel is right. This leads these kids down a path of decision making that is effected by outside variables. They choose based on how others will respond and in the end, they are not being true to themselves. They will not feel comfortable in their own clothes and this is no way to live. I think we all go through at some point in our lives and the sooner we can choose based on how things make us feel, rather than what others think, the sooner we can find happiness in our own lives. Fitness Tip of the Week I had a great talk with a friend this week who has her doctorate in physical therapy. We discussed a lot of things but one area that really stood out is the importance of taking a holistic approach to healing. When I say holistic, I do not mean putting crystals in your window at night and chanting sacred chants. What I mean is taking a look at the whole picture and understanding that with the body, just about everything is interconnected in one way or another. One of the areas we discussed involved pain and how the pain site is only a small piece of a giant puzzle. Often times we treat the pain site with stretching, ice, and/or NSAIDS without first looking at what might be at the root cause. Factors like sleep, hydration, stress, and activity levels can all play a role in that hamstring feeling tight, the back being sore or the shoulder pain you experience placing something overhead. If we fail to look at the whole picture, we may never get to the root cause of the pain or discomfort that you are feeling. If this occurs, the pain will linger and potentially worsen to the point of it becoming chronic. Chronic pain then leads to depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and an overall decrease in quality of life which will exacerbate the pain. This cycle will then continue and it is no wonder that over 50 million American suffer from chronic pain. To view the full discussion, check out our talk: An Interview with Dr. Becca Eberly! Creating a Positive Sport Experience By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore. If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy! In order to bring joy back into youth sports, I will share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience.
What I've Been Watching... The Playbook on Netflix. This documentary series interviews five of the top sport coaches in the world as they share the rules they live by to achieve success in sports and in life. So far I have only watched episode one which features NBA Coach Doc Rivers and I have to admit, I love that guy! There were two things that really stood out to me. The first is the declaration of "I will not be a victim." Over his 60+ years on earth, he faced setbacks being a black man in America, in sport, in life, and just about everywhere. One thing he never tried to be was a victim of any circumstance that he encountered. This mindset allowed him to persevere through difficult times and the man he became today. The second is his team-first mentality. It is not me, but we on his teams and every decision he makes is in the best interest of his team. Not him, not the owner, not the fans or his star player but the team. I respect that and believe it is a reason he has been a successful coach for 20+ seasons. Quote of the Week "If anyone can refute me – show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective — I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.” -- Marcus Aurelius I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck Carol Dweck is a psychologist, professor and author of a great book titled Mindset. In it, she discusses the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. To define these simply, the fixed mindset believes that things like intelligence, skill and talent are innate. You either have it or you don’t. On the other hand, the growth mindset believes that your current state is just a starting point. It believes that the abilities that you have are not set in stone and that with hard work, things like intelligence, skill and talent can be improved. In her research, she has conducted numerous studies on the topic of mindset and below, I share one that had me in disbelief!
The study began with a test that every student took. These tests were graded and it was fairly simple. One half of the class was praised for their intelligence and the other half was praised for their effort. In the end, everyone was feeling good about themselves as they scored pretty well on it and were ready for whatever the teacher had in store for them. Then things began to get interesting… With test number two, the researchers gave the students an option: Would you like to take an easy test or a hard test? 90% of the kids praised for their effort chose the hard test and only a small majority of the kids praised for intelligence chose the difficult one. Based on that, the researchers began to speculate that the praised for intelligence group did not want their new found identity to be threatened and chose the easy route whereas the praised for effort group looked forward to another challenge and chose accordingly. We aren't done yet... Then, a third and very difficult test was to be given. Nobody scored well on this but it is the approach each group took that really differentiates the two. The effort group liked the challenge and dug in. They found it to be fun testing solutions and trying different strategies. The intelligence group did not see it the same way. They hated the test and took it as proof that they were not as intelligent as they originally thought. Finally, a fourth test was given that was similar in difficulty to the initial exam. The praised for effort group improved their score by 30% while the praised for intelligence group saw a 20% decline in their scores. Dweck couldn’t believe the results so she decided to run the study five more times. Each time she ran it, the results stayed the same! Kids are very attuned to the messages they receive and as this study indicates, how you praise matters. Dweck's research team found that if you focus solely on the child's performance and praise that behavior, then there could be a negative long term consequence as the child identifies his worth based off of how successful they were at a given task. Whenever that identity is challenged or threatened and they face a setback, they will not be equipped to handle it well and in some cases, shut down. So, rather than focusing on outcomes, the attention should be placed on the process (effort, strategy, focus, perseverance, etc.). If you praise them for hard work, allow them to fail, and through failure, teach them to be brave and overcome adversity, they will face challenges and setbacks in a way that will promote future growth optimally. Fostering a high performance mindset is an environment where the child utilizes their talent, encourages learning through their efforts, and gives each kid autonomy and control over the learning process. Chris Fluck What I've Been Thinking About...
We had an interesting talk this week at the gym with some of the kids about whether or not they would rather look cool or be cool. The way to define "cool" varies but my response when asked was similar to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's remark in the sixties regarding obscenity in film: "I know it when I see it". Surprisingly, in what I thought would be a slam dunk win for "Be Cool", "Look Cool" ended up getting about half of the votes. This frustrated me a bit. Kids put a lot of pressure on themselves to look the part. They make decisions with others in mind rather than doing what they feel is right. This leads these kids down a path of decision making that is effected by outside variables. They choose based on how others will respond and in the end, they are not being true to themselves. They will not feel comfortable in their own clothes and this is no way to live. I think we all go through at some point in our lives and the sooner we can choose based on how things make us feel, rather than what others think, the sooner we can find happiness in our own lives. Fitness Tip of the Week I had a great talk with a friend this week who has her doctorate in physical therapy. We discussed a lot of things but one area that really stood out is the importance of taking a holistic approach to healing. When I say holistic, I do not mean putting crystals in your window at night and chanting sacred chants. What I mean is taking a look at the whole picture and understanding that with the body, just about everything is interconnected in one way or another. One of the areas we discussed involved pain and how the pain site is only a small piece of a giant puzzle. Often times we treat the pain site with stretching, ice, and/or NSAIDS without first looking at what might be at the root cause. Factors like sleep, hydration, stress, and activity levels can all play a role in that hamstring feeling tight, the back being sore or the shoulder pain you experience placing something overhead. If we fail to look at the whole picture, we may never get to the root cause of the pain or discomfort that you are feeling. If this occurs, the pain will linger and potentially worsen to the point of it becoming chronic. Chronic pain then leads to depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and an overall decrease in quality of life which will exacerbate the pain. This cycle will then continue and it is no wonder that over 50 million American suffer from chronic pain. To view the full discussion, check out our talk: An Interview with Dr. Becca Eberly! Creating a Positive Sport Experience By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore. If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy! In order to bring joy back into youth sports, I will share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience.
What I've Been Watching... The Playbook on Netflix. This documentary series interviews five of the top sport coaches in the world as they share the rules they live by to achieve success in sports and in life. So far I have only watched episode one which features NBA Coach Doc Rivers and I have to admit, I love that guy! There were two things that really stood out to me. The first is the declaration of "I will not be a victim." Over his 60+ years on earth, he faced setbacks being a black man in America, in sport, in life, and just about everywhere. One thing he never tried to be was a victim of any circumstance that he encountered. This mindset allowed him to persevere through difficult times and the man he became today. The second is his team-first mentality. It is not me, but we on his teams and every decision he makes is in the best interest of his team. Not him, not the owner, not the fans or his star player but the team. I respect that and believe it is a reason he has been a successful coach for 20+ seasons. Quote of the Week "If anyone can refute me – show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective — I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.” -- Marcus Aurelius I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore. If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy! In order to bring joy back into youth sports, I will share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience.
Happy New Year!
I am sure this statement won't surprise anyone but time sure does seem to fly by. Just as I began getting used to writing 2022 at the end of the date, I now have to start all over again and change that final number over to a 3. I think back to the beginning of the year and in one sense, it seems like forever ago and in another, it seems just like yesterday. Same could be said for the past 5, 10, 20 or 30 years. I hope that for all of us, this year brings on joy and happiness to you and those close to you. Personally, my plan for this year is to stop saying things like, "I will do it tomorrow. I will do it next week. I will do it next month, year or decade" and start saying I will do it right now. Contrary to the popular Rolling Stone song Time Is On My Side, we don't always truly have time on our side. At any given moment, our life can be drastically altered. When I hear stories about an untimely death due to illness, accident, or self-afflicted measures, I often think how fragile life is. One moment, someone is here, the next, they are gone forever. Tomorrow is not a guarantee and I hope to live my life in a way that honors that. Action today, not action tomorrow! What I've Been Thinking About... I came across a formula recently that I could actually understand. It went E + R = O or Event + Response = Outcome. Often times, I feel that we let certain events that our outside of our control dictate what that effect will have on our lives. To give you a recent example, the COVID lockdowns really did a number on some local businesses. Some owners changed their processes and did whatever they could to make things work and stay in the game. Other places used the event of a global pandemic to be the reason for their demise. They said things like "there is nothing that we can do" and their lack of appropriate response ultimately led to the outcome that they did not want. In their case, it became E = O as their response was nil. The events that occur in your life do not equal the outcome. They play a role but their is one factor that greatly effects who you become: your response. When tough things happen, it is important to look for the greatest good and make the most out of whatever is thrown our way. Fitness Tip of the Week The holiday season seems to add on some additional mental stress and if not managed appropriately, this stress can manifest itself into physical ailment. When we feel overwhelmed, things like headaches, upset stomach, lower pain tolerance, muscle tightness, and in some cases, bodily pain can start to show its ugly little head. That pain or discomfort is your body telling you to pay attention to something. In this case, that something is the mental strain that you are feeling. Stress is something that is part of the human experience and it is never going to truly go away. The best thing that we can do to help mitigate these stressors are the same type of things that can make your quality of life feel that much better. Participating in exercise or physical activity can help alleviate stress and give you an outlet to relieve some of those feelings. So too can outdoor activities, ensuring you are getting proper sleep, participating in your favorite hobby (preferably not on a device), or spending some time together with friends. Nothing seems to ease the mind better than joking and laughing with some buddies about the good old days. Lastly, take some time to yourself and check out for a little bit. Just as your muscles need rest to recover after a tough workout, your mind will need a break after the holiday stressors or stimulation. What I've Been Watching... Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery After a long day of holiday festivities, Marisa and I decided to look for a movie on Christmas night. After struggling for a few minutes I clicked on the trailer for Glass Onion and was intrigued. This is one of those murder mystery movies and it has a great cast (Ed Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, and more). In addition to the whodunnit component, there is tons of humor, mystery and entertainment wrapped into a 2+ hour movie. Plus, to the annoyance of others (aka Marisa), I base most of my movie decisions off of the Rotten Tomatoes score. This one scored over 90% by the critics and fans and a score like that has never let me down! Quote of the Week "To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold." -- Aristotle I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck Merry Christmas
With each passing year, the holiday season gets a little more interesting around here. Having a child in the house makes the weeks leading up to the big day pretty special as there is a crazy amount of joy and excitement in the air. The holiday music is on, the gifts are wrapped, the tree has every ornament we own (which is a lot), and of course, trips to go see Santa. One weekend we went to an indoor market to see jolly old Saint Nick and we had a funny moment. As we were waiting for his arrival, Emilia and I went out to the car to grab something. On our way back in, we spot Santa Claus driving in a red minivan with Mrs. Claus riding shotgun. After they park in a handicap spot, he gets out of the car and is looking a bit disheveled and stiff. He had a significant limp and was moving around as if he was a prime candidate for a knee or hip replacement. I couldn't help but think his body must not have liked that long ride from the North Pole. Emi takes one look at the guy and says, "that is not the real Santa". I said you just might be right little lady! With that being said, here is to creating many more memories, moments, stories and spending time with those that you love. Merry Christmas! One last thing... For those keeping tabs on Emilia's exciting news (she told everyone she saw at the gym this week that she had a loose tooth) it finally fell out yesterday. Not only will she get a visit from Santa this year but also the Tooth Fairy. Crazy excitement over here! What I've Been Thinking About... In the 1950's, researcher Curt Richter conducted a study. The intent of this study was to find out how long rats would be willing to swim in a confined space before giving up. He was testing their will to fight and after a few trials with both domestic and wild rats, he decided to tweak the experiment. After watching the rats swim, he was able to tell when they were ready to give up. It was at this very moment that he decided to pick them up out of the water and rescue them. He held them for a period of time and eventually put them back into the water. What happened next amazed him! After the rescued rat was placed back in, he sat and watched this little animal fight like it never fought before. It was as if the rat knew that if he fought long enough, and didn't quit, some man would come in and rescue him from the watery abyss. This animal now had hope and because of that, was willing and able to swim for a significantly longer period of time. It is an interesting experiment as it shows how one benevolent act can totally change the outlook of an individual or animal. At a time where hope is lost in many individuals, one kind act can be all it takes to bring someone out of the funk they are in and light a fire within them to never surrender and to fight on! Fitness Tip of the Week I recently read a story about how humans are much more likely to adhere to giving their pet a medication than they are themselves. This doesn't come as a total shock as serving others, especially animals, seems to be of a higher priority for most people. But, if the person doesn't take care of themselves (75% of those prescribed medication do not follow instructions), then they will not be able to help others optimally. There is a give and take here and it reminds me of the airplane-oxygen mask scenario: Adults, put yours on first, then take care of your child. It is counter-intuitive but If you have no oxygen, you are of no help. The airline created a checklist in case of an emergency and if followed properly, things should be okay. When we look at things from taking medication to performing physical fitness, creating a daily process or checklist to take care of what is important (YOU) will improve adherence and eventually, your health. Getting healthier is on the top of the priority list for many people at the start of a new year. Unfortunately, only 22% of all Americans get the recommended daily fitness requirement. A major problem with this is that individuals typically set outcome goals which are binary and may be something like "I want to lose ten pounds". This doesn't give us a blueprint or checklist to follow and eventually turns out to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Instead of outcome goals, we should create process goals to get us to our destination. This type of goal setting creates a step by step guide to get us from Point A to Point B. In the above example of losing ten pounds, your process goals would be like...
Changing the Game: The Parent's Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids by John O' Sullivan I first learned of this author through his podcast under the same name. During these episodes, he interviews highly reputable guests (coaches, teachers, authors, researchers, etc.) on a variety of topics that all center around developing children to not only be great athletes, but great human beings as well. In this book, O’Sullivan shares tips on how to create an environment that promotes positive core values and life lessons for your child through sport rather than viewing success based solely on wins and losses, which club team you play for, scholarships, etc. It is his intent with this book to give adults a new paradigm and a game plan for raising happy, high performing children, and provides a national call to action to return youth sports to our kids! Quote of the Week "They are able because they think they are able" -- Virgil I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck New Years Sweepstakes!
Before getting to this weeks edition of the Weekly Word, I want to share with you all that this holiday season, I am bringing back the Sweepstakes! This year we will be raffling off SIX gift certificates for the gym totaling $1000! There will be ONE grand prize winner who receives a $300 prize, TWO second prizes will be given out at $200 each, and THREE third prize gift certificates each being for $100! If you would like to enter, click the following link to register: New Years Sweepstakes! What I've Been Thinking About... The Quakers. That is right, I am talking about those guys and gals who helped found the great state of Pennsylvania. A few years ago we decided to enroll our daughter in the United Friends School in Quakertown, Pa (great name for a town that has a Quaker school, right?). We chose this school for a few reasons but some of their basic tenants are all things we believe in: peace, integrity, community and the environment. These kids get to explore the outdoors, learn about the inner goodness that we all have within us, and work on projects that are really impact the local community. Around the time we made the decision to go there, I decided to buy a book titled Quaker Writings: An Anthology. Since the time of purchase, this book has done nothing but collect dust on my bookshelf! So, after skipping over this book for what seems like a thousand times, I decided to pick it up and start reading it. As I make my way through the introduction, a few things piqued my interest as the author sets the stage for the rest of the book. The author shared that after moments of depression, despair, or challenge, the Quakers viewed these times as a "baptism" or an opportunity for a rebirth. I like this idea. With every challenging moment, there is an opportunity for you to learn and become a new person. It is comparable to the idea of creation after destruction. If you can push through and get to the other side of whatever you are facing, you will become a new, better version of yourself. Fitness Tip of the Week A long time ago I ran into an old friend at the local pool and he looked over surprised to see me swimming laps. We made some small talk and eventually he asked, "What are you training for?" I gave him a little smile and said wryly, "I am training for life, bro". In hindsight, I realize that the snarky comment turns out to be pretty accurate. Completing races, playing sports, or hitting personal records in the gym are all fine and dandy but eventually, these things come to an end and you have to find a purpose to train other than for external rewards. There is not always going to be a carrot dangled in front of your nose urging you to keep moving. Eventually, you are going to have to train for that person you see in the mirror. Below I outlined a few ideas that we should all keep in mind when trying to live a long, healthy life!
What I've Been Watching... Ancient Apocalypse on Netflix. The creator of this series is a very interesting man. He is an investigative reporter who believes that he has found evidence of advanced lost civilizations that pre-date our current understanding of human history. Like any good reporter, he has ruffled some feathers as his work exposes flaws in the current belief system. As a result of this, he has been ostracized and his work has been viewed as junk science. In this series, he visits and makes reference to over a dozen sites and ponders what could have been. My understanding of ancient civilizations is beyond amateur but I will say this, Graham Hancock paints a convincing picture! One thing I really enjoy so far is the parallels between civilizations that existed on opposite ends of the world, and sometimes thousands of years apart. The physical structures are similar as are their beliefs systems in some instances. It seems most of these cultures had a flood story that helps explain their origins, snakes references show up all over the world, a crazy understanding of astrology, and more. These similarities in today's day and age are not that impressive, but considering these stories and structures are thousands of years old, Hancock really makes you wonder about their connectedness. Quote of the Week "Sports is like a double-edged sword. Swung in the right direction, the sword can have tremendously positive effects, but swung in the wrong direction it can be devastating. The sword is held by adults who supervise children's sports" -- Rainer Martens I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck What I've Been Watching...
A few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend via email and they recommended that I check out a documentary titled Stutz. This film was directed by Jonah Hill and its goal was to highlight the psychological teachings of Phil Stutz, Hill's real like therapist. This film starts a bit slow with Hill asking his therapist a series of questions about his life, his techniques and other basic interview type questions. Around the 30 minute mark, they realize they need to make a change as it seems the film is going nowhere. After talking with Stutz, they decide that it was time to open up and become vulnerable. There will be no more hiding behind safe answers or sneaky production tricks. If they want this film to work, they must be authentic. There are some tough moments for these men during filming. They discuss childhood struggles, share stories of losing their brothers, the relationships they had with their parents, whether or not the let love into their lives, and one of my personal favorites, their ability to crack jokes during tough times rather than feel the emotion of the moment (I suffer from this disease too!). As this film wraps up, you begin to see that these two men care deeply about one another. They dedicate the film to their brothers and in hindsight, the bond that they share is comparable to brotherhood. It was a very good film and one in which I plan on watching again. Fitness Tip of the Week The Aspen Institute's Project Play does a great job researching trends in physical activity levels in children in an effort to build healthy communities through sports. It is their belief that active communities do better and they have the data to support it. Some of the interested areas highlighted in their research is that they discovered that active communities have lower obesity rates, less smoking, less heart disease, higher property values and lower unemployment. So how do we get these benefits and improve the health of our communities? To me, the biggest impact we can make in a community is through the children. Physically active children are usually associated with being influenced by physically active adults. If we want the future generation to be active, then we have to be active. If you are a parent, teacher, coach or in any other mentor-type of role, you have the ability to positively effect the activity levels of the children you work with. In turn, our community will benefit not only in the short term but for many years to come. Remember, what you prioritize in your everyday life, they (the kids) will prioritize. If we want to improve the health of our community, we need to lead by example and show these young bucks what healthy living is all about! The benefits and motivation to be physically active goes way beyond looking healthy. In early childhood, physically active kids have been found to have higher test scores and improved self-efficacy. As they move through adolescence, these kids are 15% more likely to go to college, they're less likely to partake in risky behavior like smoking and drug use, and have higher self esteem. As they progress into adulthood, they become more productive at work, have higher earnings, and reduce the rate of disease. If we want a healthier, more productive community, it starts with us and the example we set forth! For more, check out podcast episode 171: Active Communities do Better What I've Been Thinking About... Did you ever just wake up one morning and feel like you were in a funk? Nothing seems to be going right and you say things like, "it's just one of those days?" Well, I had one of those days last week and it happened to occur on the morning after watching the aforementioned documentary. When Stutz was a child, he and his father were on a plane and as they were taking off, Young Stutz was a little uncomfortable. The plane was surrounded by dark clouds and he worried that they might have to deal with it for the entire trip. If any of you have ever flown through storm clouds, you know it can get a little turbulent. His father tried to reassure him and let him know that the sun is just beyond those clouds. They had to experience some tough moments but soon, they will burst through the dark clouds and see the light. Those dark clouds will be a thing of the past, they just had to work through it. As a therapist, he uses this plane story to help his clients understand that the "Black Cloud". The black cloud is that feeling I had when I woke up last week. At some point, in all our lives, we will all experience these thoughts. It may be there for short periods of time or it may stick around a little longer. One thing we must remember is that the sun is shining on the other side of those clouds. We just have to work to get there. To Stutz, the one thing that can help get you through those clouds sooner, rather than later, is gratitude. On these days, if you take a few moments periodically throughout the day to recite things you are grateful for, the sun will slowly start to appear. I tried this last week and it really helped. If you are having one of those days, give gratefulness a shot and see how it makes you feel! Jesus in Disguise? Over the past decade-plus, in my line of work, I have been fortunate to meet people from all walks of life. There have been members of both political parties, atheists, churchgoers, high income earners, low income earners, various ethnicities and more diverse encounters than one can count. I have learned that if you treat people reasonably well, they will most likely reciprocate. If you act is if everyone you encounter is a friend, the world becomes a much more pleasant place for all involved. I recently heard a story involving Mother Theresa that really made an impact on my mindset. During her life, she served the poorest of the poor, the infirm, the homeless, practically anybody that was in dire need of assistance. As a result, she was awarded the Noble Peace Prize and was canonized posthumously. In her case, she treated everyone as if they were Jesus in disguise. She asked, if this sick person was Jesus, what would I do? She served every individual with incredible care and made them feel like they were the most important person in the world. The results of her work speak for itself. I like this approach! Quote of the Week "My biggest fear is not getting enough done before I die" -- Phil Stutz I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck What I've Been Thinking About...
I was listening to an interview with author Steven Pressfield and he shared a story from one of his books involving Alexander the Great. On the quest to rule the world, Alexander and his lieutenants were stopped in their tracks by four men sitting in meditation. After refusing to move, one of Alexander's henchmen lost his cool. He looked at them and said, “This man (Alexander The Great) has conquered the world! What have you done?” The philosopher replied with no hesitation, “I have conquered the need to conquer the world.” Alexander marveled at this response and said laughingly, if I wasn't the man I am today, it is this man I would aspire to be. I absolutely love this response. These yogi's were all warriors at some point in their lives but they moved on. They no longer fight the external foes that come with battle but rather focus on the internal conflicts associated with life. These men found peace with their former self and no longer have the desire to fight, to destroy, to pillage. This is a powerful thing. The inability to do this is why we see so many people who seemingly "have it all" struggle with depression, addiction, suicide and other mental health issues. They continue to try and conquer to prove one's worth and in the end, it destroys them. The cars, the money, and the drugs offer nothing but short term pleasure and a distraction from the real work which is working on one's self. Fitness Tip of the Week I am a firm believer in the idea that their are seasons for everything. Just as the weather changes, so too should your physical training. Throughout the year, an optimal training program will have periods of time where we are trying to accomplish a challenge, periods of learning, and periods of just checking the box making sure we do something physically active each and every day.
What I've Been Listening To... This week I was reminded of a Linkin Park song and after going down the rabbit hole known as YouTube, I came across this performance of One More Light. To give a quick backstory, the lead singer Chester Bennington was very close with Chris Cornell who, one day prior to this performance, took his own life. I remember the day Cornell died as I was a big fan and was a bit heart broken. I am not one to get caught up in celebrity deaths but this one effected me for some reason. Cornell was special in the way he can emote through his music with that once in a lifetime type of voice. Same can be said of Bennington from Linkin Park. I don't love all their music but to hear their front man sing you have to admit, the dudes got some pipes! At the end of the performance, he loses it a bit and I don't blame him. To make matters even worse, Bennington took his own life two short months after dedicating this song to his friend. On the surface, one might think these men had it all. They were known throughout the world for their voice and had crowds eating out of the palm of their hands. Their talent allowed them to dominate the music charts but, like so many others, their gift came from a place of pain. It is this pain that made them special. It was this pain that they were not able to overcome. It is a beautiful song with a great message. A Few Random Thoughts from a Parent I came to a realization recently about our role as parents and the impact it has on our children. The things that you prioritize are going to be the things that they prioritize. If all you talk about is fancy clothes, then they are going to want fancy clothes. If you make fun of someone for the way they look, then they are going to make fun of the way people look. If all you talk about is winning at all costs, then the child is going to do the same thing. To think otherwise is foolish. What you say and do matters. There are no free lunches as the saying goes. Everything has a consequence, intended or not. Being a parent is the greatest responsibility that one will ever have. Take it serious and choose your actions wisely! Quote of the Week “The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind.” -- Gates of Fire I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck |
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