Papillon Human Potential - Physical Potential - Fitness - Desire For Fitness Occurs Naturally

Desire For Fitness Occurs Naturally

A useful distinction that I've made since being introduced to the ethos of listening to the body, combined with the definition of fitness as being able to do things specifically while out of breath is that a desire to develop fitness can occur naturally, without needing to be forced.

I also believe this is the most harmonious way.

I'd like to share an account here so that it may be useful for you too.

The distinction that I made came through self awareness when I realised that my running sessions were not getting me any fitter, but that they were simply maintaining my current level of fitness, which to me felt slightly sluggish and uncomfortable in any case.

I often ended my runs with a quick sprint to finish off, but as my physical state at the start of the sprint finish was well within my capacity, this did not develop fitness at all, it just maintained what I had.

At the end of one particular sprint finish, however, I noticed a clear and distinct uncomfortableness about my state of comfortableness. In other words, it felt physically worse to be sitting on undeveloped potential, than to push it further than before. My whole lungs and body were crying out to be expanded.

So what I did was to do another sprint finish before I had finished recovering from the first. This meant I was exercising 'while out of breath', and so felt better and felt like I was developing my fitness more. It was certainly a more comfortable way to end - feeling complete, rather than incomplete.

Now what I would like to note for you about this example is that I didn't have to force this state whereby I wanted, or would prefer to be 'busting a gut'. It came of its own free will. I didn't have to do the uncomfortable, I did what was comfortable.

Of course, we are all at varying levels of fitness, so not everyone has the same levels of experiences, but I would bet that there are equivalents for just about everyone; for example, in the case of a sedentary person, the desire to get up and get some movement going even thought they don't need to might be something they have. But the key is that such a desire needs to be known, or perceived, in order to be aced upon; self-awareness: listening to the body! Cliched ways of thinking also need to be broken down and got rid of.

And, of course, there will be examples in between these two extremes.

Just like life, not growing in physical fitness can be just as stagnating and uncomfortable to the point where to grow is comfortable because it is natural. Nothing needs forcing or 'manufacturing'. Nothing needs motivating from outside natural drives. It can be inspired from within, and I believe it will, if you are honest with yourself and let it happen.

The important point to note is that whilst pushing myself to run was challenging, it was a clear and genuine desire as it was much more comfortable than not pushing myself. Sometimes it will be true the other way round, of course.

If you would like to place a posting on one of the forums about this concept, the link is below.

I hope this insight works well for you.

James Blacker