Working out and consciousness

Have you noticed how people feel after they have worked out?

Almost always in a good mood. Its so simple that one marvels at the fact that we don’t see this more clearly. Every time after training people are more relaxed and generally in a better mood. One can notice this in oneself too. Still, many dread working out as something not fun one has to do.

There is this slight uncomfortable sensation that comes with working out. Its a very small price to pay for clearer being and more peace of mind afterwards. Nevertheless, one seems to be so under the control of basic instincts that even the slightest “pain” sensation (or uncomfortable sensation) is enough for us to avoid that activity.

What a shame. Overcome this slight uncomfortable, start moving and working out more each day and reap the rewards.

This leads one on an interesting tangent regarding consciousness and how it relates to instincts. One framework to understand consciousness one came up with high and unable to sleep at 6 am:

It is the thinking part of the mind that constantly questions what we are doing, questions its validity so we are not simple slaves of instinct.

An organism that works simply with instinct could run into trouble while following sources for food — simply because the instinct to eat is powerful. Thus, life has created this overarching pattern that questions all instinct — consciousness. It allows for meta thinking and critical thinking about one’s own behavior — beyond our instincts.

By following our instincts, we would much rather watch Netflix, have sex, play games, binge-eat and drink all day long. However, with a functioning consciousness one is able to see how these activities prey upon your instincts and lead to a bad place

Now, this relates to working out because the pain you instinctually avoid is in this case something good. Thus, with this framework of consciousness you need to let it do it’s thing and actually critically understand this avoiding of pain is leading to a bad place — and override that instinct to avoid it. Go swimming, go work out — whatever that means to you — and reap the rewards.

If one wants to continue this consciousness line of thought, it causes some interesting questions when consciousness turns its inner gaze upon itself — and does its function — to be critical of our being. One can see that questioning as a can of worms or as a source of interesting understanding of oneself. You be the judge.

Thanks for reading.