You’re Capable of More Than You Think There was a professor I had at Auburn who made a lifelong positive impression on me. Dr. Wang was a professor of Biomechanics & Kinesiology, which is the study of physics applied to the human body. Perhaps it was his Chinese background that made him teach in an usual way, but regardless he had a unique method which I liked. To sum it up, Dr. Wang saw the possibilities in every situation. If you’ve ever read Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” you may already know what I’m talking about.
One statement which he uttered innumerable times, in response to tough questions, was “could be.” What this indicated was that the laws of physics, though they are laws, don’t always hold in human movement because there are so many intangibles. Many things outside of the predicted norms “could be.” Human movement is so unpredictable, that it’s not always black and white. Pain and performance as a result, aren’t always predictable either.
We already learned about a wrestler with -no legs- winning a championship. Humans regularly defy the laws of gravity, strength, and exertion to escape, to help others, and to survive. A few years ago, a man in Utah sawed off his own arm which was trapped under a rock and walked miles to safety. When it comes to what you’re capable of, don’t limit yourself. With a clear goal and a clear plan, the possibility is there for most things.
You and I could both hike the Appalachian trail, from Georgia to Maine, if we had to. We could squat 100s of pounds, we could walk to work every day, we could go days without eating. We’re tougher than we think. Muscles were once our only motors, and they could be again. Just because our lives are pretty easy doesn’t mean we could not do more. We tend to end up at a “thermostat” level, but if we push hard and exert effort day in, and day out, we can reset the thermostat to a higher level. The possibility exists for us to do great things, and to change.
From my experience, when it comes to fitness, most people need to change their mindset. Most people see themselves a certain way, a little pudgy, out of breath, or lazy, and they live that way. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. They want to feel better, have more energy, and so on, but they end up stuck in a prison of their own making. We all do this from time to time, instead of thinking about the possibilities.
Do this “Possibility” exercise:
Find someone to look up to, who’s done what you want to do. Someone your age and body type, who’s gotten themselves in good shape, and use them as a role model. In other areas, find another person, someone who has what you want too. Instead of being jealous, try to emulate what they do. Study their techniques and methods. Ask them if possible and try to do what they do, so new things become possible for you.
When it comes to fitness, we’re creating a new future. Free will is alive and well, and you need to be open the future and what’s possible. Allow yourself to think BIG. Consider the possibilities and you’ll have a good fighting chance to get there. You never know, like Dr. Wang said, it could be!
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