Phoenix Strength & Conditioning

"The idea that some individuals are born with innate abilities that set them apart from the rest of us is a seductive one, but it simply doesn't hold up to scientific scrutiny. While it is true that some people may have a genetic predisposition that gives them a slight advantage in a particular area, this advantage is usually quite small and can be easily overcome through deliberate practice.

In fact, research has consistently shown that deliberate practice is the key factor that differentiates expert performers from non-experts. Whether we're talking about musicians, athletes, or chess players, those who achieve the highest levels of performance are not those who possess some magical gift, but rather those who have dedicated themselves to a program of deliberate practice.

Deliberate practice involves setting specific goals, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, and seeking feedback on your performance. It requires a deep commitment to improvement and a willingness to put in the time and effort needed to reach your goals. But if you're willing to do the work, there's no limit to what you can achieve.

So if you've ever thought that you're just not cut out for a particular activity or that you don't have the natural talent needed to excel, think again. Innate talent is a myth. With the right approach and enough practice, you can become an expert in just about anything."

Joanthen Haidt points out that being open-minded involves actively seeking out opposing viewpoints and engaging with them in a constructive way. This means being willing to listen to and consider the arguments and evidence presented by others, even if they contradict one's own beliefs.

By doing so, individuals can test the validity of their own beliefs and gain a deeper understanding of the world

It is also worth noting that being open-minded does not mean abandoning one's own beliefs and adopting those of others. Instead, it means being willing to critically evaluate one's own beliefs and being open to modifying or refining them based on new information and perspectives.

With this quote Albert Camus illustrates that everyone carries within them the potential for harm, whether it be through past mistakes, regrets, or negative traits. It suggests that it is the responsibility of each person to confront these inner demons and work to overcome them, rather than projecting them onto the world and others.

Camus believed that the struggle towards self-improvement was a fundamental aspect of human existence. By confronting our own weaknesses and faults, we can become better people and contribute to a better world.

There is a subtle reminder that we must not only work on ourselves but also on others. This implies that we have a responsibility to help others recognize and confront their own inner struggles as well. By doing so, we can create a more empathetic and understanding society that is less prone to violence, judgment, and negativity.

We need to take responsibility for our own personal growth and to work towards becoming better versions of ourselves. We all have the potential for harm and that we must work to overcome our own inner demons while also helping others to do the same.

When suffering through the holocaust Victor Frankl realised that the purpose of life cannot be found in our personal desires and aspirations. These things can be ripped away from us in the most cruel and unjust ways leaving us bereft of meaning, unable to endure what life will throw in our direction.

Frankl was of the belief that the purpose of life was to be found in the responsibilities and obligations that are placed upon us by life itself.

In essence, we shouldn't focus on what we want or expect from life, but to focus on what life is demanding from us. Rather than trying to shape the world to meet our desires, we should strive to fulfill our responsibilities and duties to the best of our abilities.

"Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible."

The strongest arguments put forward by philosophers are not only theoretical, they are embodied.

How can you argue with a man born into Roman slavery and crippled by his master when he tells you to accept whatever happens, strive to change yourself?

What are you going to say, "my life is too hard, its unfair?"

Of course it is. What are you going to do with it?

Haven't had a proper holiday in 7 years! So nice to spend quality time away relaxing in such a beautiful location. Only thing prettier than the location was .psychotherapy

You and only you can walk the path of life. "Where does lead?" Don't ask, walk!

Be original!

Decisions Decisions...

Life is complicated!

The sun goes up, we go up. The deer is running, the tiger chasing. To live, the deer needs to run. To live, the tiger needs to eat. The one who does not compete does not live.

It's a mistake to think intuitions are somehow wrong or are a bad forms of reasoning. Intuitions are an important part of our cognitive process, to Ignore intuition is to invite calamity.