One of the things I have a knack for is pinpointing problems, addressing those problems, and then solving them in the best way possible. That is what makes me a coach, helping athletes find whatever problems they have and help them solve the problems.
Outside of coaching, I work the same way. A lot of people know that there is a general sense of "wrongness" in this country these days, and it adversely affects their health and livelihood in the process. I have pinpointed a lot of these problems to certain sources, but it would take an eternity to explain these sources on a blog such as this. Some issues do fall into health issues and since this blog is intended toward health and fitness in the ultra world, I will address those issues here.
Today's society has become more like a machine these days, with every person a cog that helps the machine run. The machine "helps" in a way to sustain us and keep us alive, but will not help in bettering our lives over time. It is an existence that ultimately destroys an individual's free will and health. The machine doesn't care about your health anyway; if you, the cog, breaks down, well, those who run the machine can replace you with another cog so that the machine can keep on running.
The Borg are a perfect example of a machine-run society. Each Borg was part of a collective and were not allowed to express their true talents on an individual basis.
And therein lies the problem with people in this country. There is an internal war going on within the minds of many individuals. Human beings are not cogs; we are not all the same. Each individual is talented in different areas whether it be scientific, artistic, or mechanical. These talents are being repressed in today's society where the shapers of this society discourage the use of your talents and reduce you to that of a cog. Since each individual is not being allowed to flourish and be human, it is ultimately his/her mental and physical health that is sacrificed. Last year, I read an article that antidepressants are up 75% the past 10 years. I argue that there is really nothing wrong with the individual who takes antidepressants; it's probably the situation the individual is in that is making him/her depressed. Heck, if I was stuck in a cubicle all day for 5 days out of the week, I would probably be popping pills also.
It's a tough situation that a lot of people find themselves in. Of course, the easy way out is to take the medication, do as you're told, and try to conform to society. Yeah, you'll live your life out, even possibly getting to retirement, but you'll never see your true potential, as your individual strengths and talents are suppressed. Remember, there is nothing special about being a cog. So sit there, shut up, and help the machine work. Of course, with the suppression of your talents, and therefore your humanity, lies a lot of health problems. Some are physical, like obesity. Some are mental, like depression. That both are dominant problems in today's society is surely not a coincidence.
The other way is to start exhibiting your true talents and make them work for you. This can be a tougher road to take than the antidepressant route, but the fulfillment of your full potential is worth the extra effort. There will be failure along this path, but the ability to get back up from failure and learn from it is always the trick to succeeding in the end. My blog about living outside your comfort zone relates to taking the tougher path to fulfillment.
As a coach, I certainly help people realize that they have the means to realize that their potential can be unlimited and that they can succeed in doing whatever they want as long as they work toward their goal. The beauty of being an endurance coach is seeing those individuals finish distance races they couldn't possibly hope they can do a year ago.
As an individual, I am always trying to translate what I have done to that I can have the confidence of minimizing my exposure to the machinery of society. The next series of blogs will go through what I have done to minimize my exposure to this machine.
The tougher road is always the road to take to fulfillment. I always encourage my athletes to take this road rather than the easy way out. It has enabled me to do several Ironman triathlons. An even tougher road has enabled me to run 100 miles in a race. And the toughest road, the road that I am currently taking, will hopefully help me find the full realization of my true self, transcending all and exceeding my greatest expectations, which is a lot more than the machine can give.
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