Savage / Zen Newsletter No. 92
“The point of modern propaganda isn't only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking, to annihilate truth.”
~ Garry Kasparov
One of the many expressions from the Bitcoin world that seems to apply nearly everywhere is “don’t trust, verify.” This is, of course, in conjunction with an “open source”, “decentralized”, and “permission-less” system. What an abhorrent idea to the modern western cultural landscape.
The obvious example of this is politics; it is election season after all. However, fitness, nutrition, and sport are no exception. No one escapes culture (completely).
We are servants and subjects to what and who we pay our attention to.
The modern “information age" has encouraged us to obsess in a downward gaze at the weeds of our lives. It incentives quarrels over trees rather than marveling at the forest together.
Indeed, critical thinking is hard.
What’s more, “these are not the droids you’re looking for.” “The Establishment” is quite satisfied to have would-be and self-acclaimed “truth seekers” guided in zealous fashion to pick apart a red herring.
Agenda. Mis-information. Anyone else tired of these words?
They’re almost as nauseous as the tritely belittled “coping skills, self-care, balance”, etc. You’re not going to “bio-hack” your way to self-actualization or body positivity any more than you are world peace.
Does that mean you shouldn’t try? Of course not.
The more you’re willing to risk; there is always more to gain. The pertinent question is, “is it worth it?” For you? No one else has to live with the consequences of your decisions. But, did you know what you were getting in to? Did someone else?
“The reason to win the game is to be free of it.” ~ Naval Ravikant
The thirst is real. Nothing motivates like hunger. Some hungry people manipulate others. Sometimes under the guise, or delusion, of altruism.
Several years ago I parted ways with a professional organization that was profoundly dear to my heart and irrevocably foundational in my professional and personal development.
The wounds healed. The scars remained. The growth persisted.
I was fortunate to recently touch base with a colleague of many differing opinions, though with a similar experience with the same organization.
Maybe our “heroes” are dead. Maybe we killed them. Maybe we built them up in our minds only to do so. Maybe Nietzsche was right… we’ll never have enough blood to wash the truth from our hands.
There is always someone who should “know better” and is charged with guiding their successors and fails them in one way or another. That certainly doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to learn from them. It just means that everything costs, and sooner or later everyone pays.
The trope of “trusting the process” only counts if you’re willing to risk in order to gain. It will not be proportionate. To achieve greatness, you will have to do what is inherently not worth it.
To walk the middle path is to learn to hold tension. Holding tension is strength, and indeed strength is needed to endure. To endure is to learn to suffer, and to learn to suffer is to learn to love (Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, and Frankl).
“Trusting” a centralized system is abdicating one’s permission and the power or your choice. Because “truth” is never stagnant, closed systems — regardless of “correctness” — are inherently incestuous, pestilent, and cancerous.
Nothing breeds destruction like hatred, which is of course fueled by terror and lies that capitalize on the modicum of truth found in anguish and pain.
If we concede that the only way to grow a new hand is to cut off one of our existing ones we’ve gone terribly awry. Whoever ends up doing the cutting has lost to the whims the divisive and the dividers.
Ideas may be bulletproof, but they’re only verified by action. Ideas alone have never changed anything and hope is not a plan. Take action, together.
What I’ve Been Reading / Listening To:
For better or worse, American political content has pervaded most of my media consumption over the past month. I’ve tried my best to shut out the nonsense while also striving to be an informed citizen and voter.
Interestingly enough, my “social” media time has gone down a fair amount.
As a very welcome relief, it’s been a while since I’ve dove deep into fantasy literature (movies, games, etc.). In a clinical sense, there’s tremendous projective and cathartic value to this. Culturally, humanly, story telling is probably one of the oldest forms of entertainment.
Hence, it’s no surprise the value and impact of the stories we internalize and tell ourselves.
Lastly, my typical Sunday evening is chilling with the pups and binge watching stand up comedy. It seems laughter is good medicine.
What’s New:
I just finished Week 4 of 6 on my current Olympic Weightlifitng program. As a reminder, premium subscribers have access to training program posts which detail my exact protocols, sets, splits, etc. in addition to the public discussion and review of those training blocks.