On The Humble Limits Of Being Human
Recently I’ve been staring at images of the human body. The skeletal system, muscular system, various organs etc.
It’s the stuff I learned in school yet it’s been a while since I returned to such visuals, depicting the unescapable processes (for better or worse) of our various bodily functions - excreting, moving, eating, sleeping, breathing, squatting. It’s a complex system and yet easily forgotten amidst the day to day habits that fill our lives.
On the other hand, I’m generally prone to reading other non-fiction exploring the utmost potentials of the mind-body and how we can reach them. Through intention, planning, observation, exercise, art, music and movement (for example), the ‘sky’s the limit’ - or so we’re told.
Humans are capable of extraordinary things, no doubt, but the reality is that, as reminded to me each time I see a real-life illustration of my small intestines, we have our boundaries, both mental and physical, in everything that we do. It could even be that, by surrendering to such limits, the greatest version of ourselves remains, effortlessly on a plate for us to enjoy, without the need for struggle or a certain success that was never meant for us in the first place.
This is a tricky task however, especially for the mind, which is more intangible (and difficult to measure) than the body. The inability of the elbow joint to do anything other than flex and extend is rather objective for example. The mind’s inability do anything however is difficult to observe and, in turn, prove.
Ultra-endurance athletes, writers, chess players, engineers etc sustain levels of focus, disciple (and sometimes extreme pain) which we might easily assume to be impossible, or at least ‘unhuman’. Without the physical proof of their efforts we’d never believe their mental capacities perhaps whatsoever.
Nonetheless, what we see long term at least is an equally humble threshold of the mind’s output also. Burnout and mental fatigue is a real thing, and if we believe today’s top researchers on the subject then it’s even an epidemic!
Working 60-hour weeks is impressive, and even highly useful from time to time, but it is almost never sustainable long term. Equally, the high output of bodybuilders, ultramarathon runners, gymnasts, swimmers, footballers etc is equally challenging.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” we say in English. Always we pay the price, somehow or another, for treading the thin line of our human limits. This might mean a short career, one riddled with injuries or, if lucky, a conscious ride of rest, recovery, learnings and better techniques along the way.
Naturally, being a writer of all things ‘movement and monkfulness’, and a bit of a sensitive soul myself, I’m a real advocate for the latter approach of course…
…to acknowledge our boundaries and limitations, and enjoy the study and practice required to ‘tread lightly’ around them; developing the body and mind in wonderful ways as we go.
These practitioners are often not the ones with the gold medals or world records however, nor are they necessarily ‘the best’ at anything. But what they DO tend to have is a self-responsible mind-body; a practitioner’s approach, which will serve them and their communities every day until they die.
Sound interesting enough? Did I convince you? Or are you still more into chasing the wild, ambitious dream, disregarding all else along the way?
If you’re into the more sensitive approach and believe a little in what I say, then here’s a couple of concepts (‘methods’ even, you might say) to help you along the way:
The 60% Rule - this principle implies that 60% of our absolute maximum effort is the amount of ‘work’ we should put into both our mental and physical development on a daily basis. Higher intensity, from time to time, has its value most certainly, but as a daily ‘average’ try to stay below 60% in order to avoid the early onsets of injury and/or burnout.
Interestingly this corresponds to well-proven science on the energy zones of the body and, in turn, our chosen choice of fuel throughout: 60% and below is the aerobic zone (using oxygen and fat as our primary sources of fuel). Over 60% and we quickly become anaerobic and in need of more fast-burning carbohydrates to sustain such efforts (as well as increased levels of Carbon Dioxide and lactic acid build up in the body).
The 1% Concept - this ‘rule’ dictates that every deliberate practice or ‘training’ (a writing session, a workout, a run etc) changes us as a person by 1%. Treat this as 0.1% even if you like, it doesn’t really matter. The point is that consistency makes for effective learning and development, NOT intensity. The 100 (or 1000) times you turned up to the gym, or the music studio, or writing desk, is what makes you the professional or the artist you are today, not the occasionally-inspired all-night blitz!
Frequency creates habit, which creates efficiency, which created output, which creates change. In conclusion: better to train for 15 minutes, 5 times a week, than for 2 hours straight on a Sunday.
As I get older I find myself considering what it might be like to be MUCH older. I ask myself what life I wish to have in my 80s. I’ll be limited for sure. But like I mentioned, we’re limited now already. The question is, how will I use my limited potential to live gracefully, purposefully and happily into old age; and, who knows, maybe even way beyond…?!
What if we indeed treated our limits as a gift, a blessing or an accurate ‘road sign’ at least? Pointing us the way of humility, of patience, and of love.
I, for one, believe this to be the case, and feel lucky to have such an averagely-human mind and body of my own, to journey onwards and upwards with…
Did you enjoy this blog? If so, click here to support EaglesWrites…
