I’ve put forward a physiological hypothesis to explain the psychological Opponent Process theory, which I call the Receptor Control Theory. In essence, our pleasure set point or baseline “happiness” is determined by the density and sensitivity of dopamine receptors in the brain (and elsewhere). In this view, obesity and addiction result from a process of “dopamine resistance”, whereby receptor down-regulation impairs satisfaction and drives cravings. Conversely, high receptor density and sensitivity promote satisfaction and dampen cravings.
Phone use might rise to the level of a literal addiction. Its use can certainly cause dopamine release, which is a strong motivator that plays a role in addiction. I used to think that wasn’t true… That my phone didn’t cause dopamine release… That my phone wasn’t causing manipulation of my motivations… then I tried to put my phone down for an entire day.
And then I set about separating using my phone as a tool—which I can do a lot without it being addictive—from my phone’s use of me as a tool.
What are the key insights into natural movement, breathing, and how they connect to overall well-being?
MaryBeth Gangemi’s experience as a social worker has had a profound affect on how she approaches her movement practice and working with clients. She shares her own movement journey, from city to country side. MaryBeth discusses the importance of environment, breathing, and play on our ability to move well and ‘naturally.’ She unpacks her thoughts on the connections between social work and movement, as well as creating spaces accessible to all.
So you could say, is walking natural movement? […] But what if you’re walking with your head down looking at your phone, with your mouth open breathing heavy, is that? […] If we want to focus on return to nature type of idea […] how about like, really walk with posture up and look where you’re going and look around and see what’s ahead of you? […] Just not letting all of it pass you by.
~ MaryBeth Gangemi (39:34)
MaryBeth Gangemi is a breath, strength, and natural movement coach, in addition to being a wife and mother. She has certifications in many different areas, including MovNat, Kettlebells, Original Strength, and Buteyko Breathing Method. MaryBeth owns and runs Kairos Strong, where she teaches students to develop quality movement to support all areas of their life.
The conversation explores the profound relationship between natural movement, breathing, and overall well-being. Topics include the importance of posture, awareness, and incorporating nature into daily practices to foster mindfulness. Breathing techniques, such as the control pause, are discussed as vital tools for improving health and managing stress.
There’s an emphasis on rediscovering play, curiosity, and sensory experiences, like walking barefoot or engaging with different textures in the environment. The dialogue also examines the role of environment in shaping movement habits and encourages listeners to explore new activities when their current routines become monotonous or unfulfilling.
Takeaways
Breathing awareness — Understanding breathing patterns can improve oxygenation and reduce stress.
Natural movement — Everyday movements like walking and crawling can be made more mindful and enriching.
Environment’s role — The physical and social environment significantly influences movement habits.
Rediscovering play — Adults can benefit from integrating playful and exploratory elements into their routines.
Mindfulness in motion — Focusing on posture and surroundings enriches movement experiences.
Breathing practices — Simple techniques like the control pause provide tangible health benefits.
Flexibility in routines — Movement practices should be adaptable and enjoyable to sustain long-term engagement.
The sculptor must paint with his chisel: Half his touches are not to realize, but to put power into, the form. They are touches of light and shadow, and raise a ridge, or sink a hollow, not to represent an actual ridge or hollow, but to get a line of ight, or a spot of darkness.
To suddenly “go mindful” and try to be present all the time is about as easy as running a marathon when you’ve never even run around the block. Since most of us are not present the vast majority of the time, occasional stabs at “being in the moment” are quickly overrun by the colossal momentum of a lifetime of being lost in thought.
There’s much worth reading on David Cain’s Raptitude website. For example, his How to walk across a parking lot, is one of the greatest things I’ve ever read. But the piece I’ve quoted from above stands out as a terrific “how to…” for working on mindfulness.
I’ve been actively working on first self-awareness, then self-assesment and finally mindfulness, for many years. (And writing about my journey as I’ve done so.) But mindfulness is still something that comes and goes for me.
Rewriting [is] very painful. You know it’s finished when you can’t do anything more to it, though it’s never exactly the way you want it… The hardest thing in the world is simplicity. And the most fearful thing, too. You have to strip yourself of all your disguises, some of which you didn’t know you had. You want to write a sentence as clean as a bone. That is the goal.
It can be easy to look at great geniuses like Newton and imagine that their ideas and work came solely out of their minds, that they spun it from their own thoughts—that they were true originals. But that is rarely the case.
There’s a perennial discussion around creativity that gets described various ways: “Steal like an artist.” “Repurpose what’s been done before.” “Creating new from the old.” I like Parrish’s point, (in the article but not the quote above,) that “geniuses” first mastered the best that others had to offer. Then they go onward and farther to create something new.
If the only thing someone has ever done is sample and remix others’ work… meh. But if someone has mastered some field—art, math, music, whatever—and then recombines and extends, (or pares down or transmogrifies)… then, ok. My distinction feels very close to the, No true Scotsman, logic fallacy, and yet I think it’s a useful distinction.
Moral beauty is the basis of all true beauty. This foundation is somewhat covered and veiled in Nature. Art brings it out, and gives it more transparent forms.
I’m deeply in lust for vignettes. I’ve quoted the opening of the short piece and I’m saying nothing further about it. Although, I’ll happily arrange a few more bytes about vignettes.
You see, I’m a sucker for cuts; Cuts in the sense where one visual transitions to another exactly in the way that the real world doesn’t. (With a hat tip to Douglas Adams if that last turn of phrase feels familiar.) Movies like Up, or Bicentennial Man—which I love, but most people seem to pan—or check out the “Epilogue” in the movie, Cherry, (on AppleTV. Get AppleTV for a month just to watch this movie.) I’m a sucker for Vignettes that give you just enough information for you to navigate… and leave to your own devices to pull up your own memories, and to yank on your own heart strings.
If you are going to be a writer there is nothing I can say to stop you; If you’re not going to be a writer nothing I can say will help you. What you really need at the beginning is somebody to let you know that the effort is real.
Life is about tradeoffs. When we know what to say no to, and we know why, we can say yes with comfort and confidence to the things that matter. To the things that last. Work, family, scene. You can have two if you say no to one. If you can’t, you’ll have none.
The words “work”, “family”, and “scene” are of course maleable. I’d argue there’s a fourth—”self” or “health” would be the word I’d choose—and the admonition should be expanded to, “choose any three.” None the less, there something that feels to me very true about it being necessary, in the way the gravity is necessary to obey, about picking two of those three. There was a time when I chose work and scene. It was interesting, for a while. It wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. What’s your list, and which are you choosing?
As did I. And, The Day After, for those who don’t know what that is, … well to be candid, I’m not sure how to describe it. Absolutely, scientifically and viscerally real. I know what it looks like when civilization collapses; and it’s not some kitschy zombie scenario. Disease disables, maims and kills. But nuclear war would return us to Medieval times. I would have been 12 or so when The Day After aired on TV, and I’m confident we watched it. I know I’ve also seen it several times on VHS, (and possibly on Beta as we had one of those for a while too.) There’s an interesting, unresolved question about why don’t we see signs of other intelligent beings… and one legit thought is that, quite possibly, all but vanishingly few races obliterate themselves in a sort of technology limiting event.
The idea of the painter and the sculptor is undoubtedly that perfect and excellent example of the mind, by imitation of which imagined form all things are represented which fall under human sight.
Normally, we think of these difficulties and frustrations as something wrong with us, the other person, or the world. With this kind of view, every failure is another reason to feel bad about ourselves. Every frustration with someone else is a reason to shut down to them or lash out at them. Everything wrong with the world is another reason to feel discouraged.
I recently read a discription of one’s mindset that used the term “expansive.” Having a “growth mindset,” or a “positive attitude,” are other turns of phrase in the same vein. Thinking expansively leads you to find opportunities. For 6+ years I’ve been tinkering on the Movers Mindset project, and a legitimate question comes up: What is the mindset of a mover?
What inspires and informs the practice and teaching of movement, particularly focusing on softness and adaptability, in Parkour?
Training barefoot and the choice of footwear reveal unexpected connections to movement fluidity.
I was always a very power hungry— Very, how far can I jump? How big of a movement can I do? Because that was always what caught the attention. But then […] I watched one of [Minh Vu Ngok’s] videos. And he was just such a beautiful mover, doing everything so elegantly, doing his flips, doing his other tricks. But you know, his video— the audio was just him moving. And it was just so quiet.
~ Josh Nierer (2:19)
The conversation explores the concept of softness in movement and its relevance to Parkour. Josh shares how his initial focus on power transitioned into a fascination with softness after observing a skilled practitioner’s quiet and elegant movements. He discusses biomechanics and how force dissipation through techniques like rolling contributes to more efficient and safer movement. Insights into ground reaction time and muscle memory highlight the technical precision required to master these movements.
Footwear and training methodologies are also discussed, emphasizing the benefits of barefoot training for sensory feedback and movement accuracy. Josh highlights the connection between repetition, strength, and mindfulness in achieving fluidity and quietness in movement. Additionally, he reflects on designing Parkour obstacles and how engineering principles enhance their functionality and versatility.
Takeaways
Repetition in training — crucial for building muscle memory and improving ground reaction time.
Softness in movement — achieved by managing force distribution and avoiding hard landings.
Biomechanics in Parkour — understanding force dissipation through rolling and other techniques.
Mindful practice — combining awareness and technical refinement to improve movement quality.
Importance of footwear — thinner soles can enhance sensory feedback and reduce injury risk.
Versatility in design — designing Parkour obstacles to maximize multiple uses and durability.
Something that irritates you. That’s the anguish of it. Do this book, or die. You have to go through that. Talent is insignificant. I know a lot of talented ruins. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: Discipline, love, luck, but most of all, endurance.
Instead, Will redefined success for himself as winning in such a way that others are satisfied with his success. This implies not only excellence but also magnanimity. It’s like when opposing crowds would give Michael Jordan standing ovations. Or when fellow golfers would congratulate Tiger Woods on his shots. Or, you know, when conceding politicians used to say nice things about their opponents.
I’m reminded of zero-sum games, versus synergy. My definition of success precludes my participation in zero-sum games. I find that Mahatma Gandhi’s, “an eye-for-an-eye just leaves the whole world blind,” brings clarity when I’m uncertain. I often joke, “chaos? disorder?! …my work here is done.” Joking aside, and truth be told, I like to imagine leaving a wake of joy and improvement as I move through the world. I’m also reminded of…
To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children […] to leave the world a bit better […] to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded
After all, you had the amount of body fat and lean body mass that you had because they were the optimal amount to keep you at the optimal temperature given your environment. Then, without changing your environment, you forcefully overrode your body’s attempt to maintain these optimal levels in order to change the level of fat mass you have, and accidently your lean body mass.
That first sentence is sublime. As far as I can recall, it’s the sentence which best describes everything I know—from both knowledge and experiene—about controlling one’s body composition. As I wrote previously in, Exercise, “I am the sort of person who…” has been the gateway each time I’ve been able to affect my body composition. Each time it’s been because I’ve changed my behavior or my environment (or both.)
At the beginning of this week, because I am the sort of person who looks ahead for the major goals and hurdles of the coming week, I realized I needed to get two runs in before Friday; I can’t count on running at the end of the week on Friday, Saturday, nor Sunday. (Monday is the first day of the week for me.) I planned to run Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday night, because I am the sort of person who makes a plan for tomorrow as part of preparing to go to sleep, I realized it was going to be chilly, wet, and drizzling around 7am when I was thinking it would be nice to go for a run. Fortunately, because I am the sort of person who enjoys running in the chill and drizzle the weather forecast didn’t faze me. And Thursday—this morning—, because I am the sort of person who follows through on plans, we were out the door around 7.
How can one effectively initiate and navigate meaningful conversations about race to foster understanding and progress?
Exploring the “messy middle” of personal change brings an unfiltered lens to life’s transformations.
A lot about this time in my life has been to move towards deeply important things where I think I can make a difference.
~ Dori Fern (29:52)
The conversation begins with reflections on a podcast project about navigating the “messy middle” of life transitions. This project explores the emotional and logistical challenges faced during significant changes, particularly focusing on authenticity and openness rather than expertise. Conversations also touch upon societal issues such as race and inclusion, emphasizing the need for candid dialogues to address personal biases and systemic inequities.
A significant part of the dialogue explores the challenges of initiating meaningful conversations about race. Dori recounts personal experiences, including the hypocrisy observed in progressive circles and the transformative impact of diverse friendships. These experiences inform a commitment to fostering understanding and purpose, particularly through confronting difficult topics and engaging with varied perspectives.
Takeaways
Moving towards purpose — Emphasizing the importance of focusing on deeply meaningful issues in middle age.
Confronting hypocrisy — Highlighting the gap between progressive ideals and lived actions in liberal spaces.
Navigating the “messy middle” — Acknowledging the challenges of life transitions and exploring them authentically.
Engaging diverse perspectives — Understanding the value of diverse friendships in broadening one’s worldview.
Creating space for conversation — Identifying strategies to initiate and sustain meaningful dialogues on race.
Recognizing systemic structures — Critiquing the pervasive impact of whiteness in societal norms and education.
Acknowledging friendship dynamics — Exploring how race conversations can shift long-standing friendships.
Addressing fear and exclusion — Understanding the role of fear in resisting inclusivity and progress.