Humble vs Humiliated

Random workouts produce random results. Everything we do in the gym can and should be used as an indicator for progress. Can we do it better next week? Next month? Then we KNOW we’re improving. And the best way to improve something is to repeat it. Ya know… TRAIN it. This is where a lot of the modern ‘random’ workout protocols will fail in the long run. Can you imagine training for ANY SKILL randomly? You wouldn’t study for a math test by reading your geography texts I hope. Heck, you wouldn’t even study for calculus by doing trig. Yet this seems to be a big trend in training right now, doing a bunch of challenging, but very random, workouts hoping for some kind of grand final result. Even ‘general fitness’ is still a category that deserves a modicum of structure in it’s training. Here’s one of the general fitness training techniques we might use at Bodytribe:

For the next 4 weeks, try this little experiment once a week:

4 exercises, 6 reps each (pretty heavy on those requiring added load) and time it. Rest 1 minute, then do it again, trying to beat that time. Then repeat one more time, after that minute rest.

One example:

Front Squats (cleans or hang cleans could work here as well)
Goodmornings (same bar)
KB lateral swings
Burpees

Now round one will take probably between 1:30 and 2 minutes. Can ya top that the second or third time? Give it a try.

Then, week 2, reduce the rest period between rounds to 45 seconds. Try to keep the time as close to the same as possible. Week three would reduce the time to 30 seconds, which means you can guess what week 4 will be.

Do all 4 weeks have to be exactly in order? heck no, throw a week of something else (like a different combo) in between, if you’d prefer. The point is to have a semblance of consistency leading to a final challenge.

________________________________________

Humble vs. Humiliated

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Being humbled and being humiliated are two different dogs fighting for the same piece of synonym pie. Sure, this gets confusing, since Humility is the art of being humble, and the word ‘humility’ sure sounds and looks a lot like ‘humiliation,’ but it isn’t unlike the difference between selfish and self-centered, which was a rant many of you would probably chose to forget (too bad, here it is.).

Donald Klein wrote:

“The truly humble person cannot be humiliated.”

Let’s not mistake being humble for being passive or timid. Instead, a society striving for healthier communication and productivity should regard the coveted position of the humble person as someone who has achieved a strong sense of security through accomplishment. Not only do they know what they can do, but they UNDERSTAND what they CAN’T do yet, and with that understanding they approach the obstacles that are stopping them with a calm strength, running a highlighter over the word YET.

We’ve all had our asses handed to us in the gym, or in competition. If the ego overrides ability, we’re humiliated. We compared ourselves too much to others and gave a lot of importance to that comparison, probably with volume (at least until we got stomped). We were forced to admit our weakness in the face of peacocking.

But if ego takes the defeat as a lesson of the self, an education towards the long term success, then we’re humbled. We grow and learn, and, ultimately, the tribe benefits. If we are our main competition, then there can be grace in the occasional loss.

One hurts. A lot. One stings a little, but also builds excitement for what’s next. Guess which is which?

Let’s put on our conspiracy theory hats…

Notice how much time, energy and money is spent promoting the possibility of humiliation? From politics, to pop culture, religion to advertising, the fear of being humiliated is a WONDERFUL control tool, both over individuals and masses, and our society is poised for dishing it out constantly. Competition has become such a point of pride, an ego-driven, empty, pointless pissing contest, that to lose is to face big time humiliation. This extends beyond just sports, although that is the most blatant example. Celebrities are ALWAYS on the brink of being humiliated. And at the opposite end of the spectrum are the bad boys, gang members, hipsters and stuff-strutters who equate many erroneous properties with ‘respect.’ Bling ain’t respect. Creating fear in others is not generating respect. Thinking you can endlessly act like a spoiled little brat isn’t because anyone respects you. Respect some from a place of humility, not humiliation.

False ideas of ‘respect’ are big fat set ups for humiliation. Ego overriding ability, which will lead to being forced to admit weakness.

So, did we create this power structure, where the majority of our idols rest on shaky pedestals? Or, and here’s the conspiracy theorist in me again, is this simply an easy way to actually assume control by higher powers that be? Being scared of humiliation is a double edged motivator. It sure gets the elbow grease going in people, often for erroneous pursuits. And it also sets up folks who get too comfy in their success to be easily knocked down, since they put so much misplaced importance in their prominence.

Holy crap, that seems like a easy way to manipulate a nation to me.

But no, I don’t believe our fear of humiliation is intrinsically linked to Area 51 and whoever shot JFK (it wasn’t me, by the way). Unfortunately, it does guide our society into dangerous places. There are a few things we need to place less importance on, folks. The process is often more beautiful and beneficial than the outcome. Perhaps we need to embrace those lessons. As Eric Kirkland wrote, “there are two types of men in the world; humble men and men about to be humiliated.” Yup, it goes for women too.

________________________________________
BODYTRIBE SUMMER STRENGTH CAMP 2009

Strip away the flotsam of fitness education and get your hands on what you really need to create change in someone through movement.

SUMMER STRENGTH CAMP, 2009

To warm you up for it, this weekend we’ll be SNATCHING. 10-noon Saturday. Check here for more details, including our upcoming movie night on August 1st!

_________________________________________

This is easily the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time (yes, it is sometimes crude, but by now you know my humor):

_________________________________________
TRUDY

By the way, that little dog ya saw towards the beginning of this post needs a home. Her name is Trudy. She’s a bit older and her owner abandoned her, to which we have a collection of bad words we’d like to share with her. If anyone you know might want to give a good home to a very sweet old girl, let me know.

Share: