Strongman Training Journal part 6

“Those who manipulate the unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested largely by men we have never heard of. In almost every act of our lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires that control the public mind.”

-Edward Bernays, Pioneer of Corporate PR and Propaganda

Embracing Minimalism, Why Less Is Really More

My parents raised me and my 3 siblings in Middle Class neighborhood on Long Island.  My mom was a nurse and my dad a mechanic.  They earned enough to provide an above average lifestyle for my siblings and I.  We went on vacations and each got a car when we earned our driver’s license (usually a car that my dad salvaged from the auto shop and fixed for us to drive, but a car none the less).

Although they could well afford it, there were some things that my parents just would not purchase for us.  One such commodity was “Cable Television”.  In a time when every house on the block had an enormous satellite dish sitting on the roof or some form of high tech signaling device that brought 300 + channels into their homes… we had a wire antenna.

Unlike the endless amount of channels that the Super Satellite Dishes provided for its users, our antenna gave us seven channels –  Channel 2 (CBS), 4 (NBC) , 5 (FOX), 7 (?), 9(?), 11 (WB), 13 (PBS).

Our house was by far the biggest and most well kept house on the block.  My father loves to garden so he would spend all weekend manicuring his lawn and planting shrubs (sometimes people would stop their cars when was working and ask if they could hire him, not realizing that he wasn’t just the “brown skinned man keeping the property” but the OWNER of the estate!).  So visiting friends and neighbors would present us with a perplexed, head tilted to the left, squinty eyed look when we told them that we didn’t have Cable Television.

“Your parents are rich and you have this huge TV, why the heck don’t you have any CHANNELS?!?!” – our friends, in all of their 9 year old wisdom would ask.  And when my brothers and I would pose my father with the same exact question, his answer was simply… “I just don’t think you need it.”

What exactly DO we need?

Well, if your like most Americans (or from any industrialized country) what you think you “need” has been conditioned deep into your consciousness by the “invisible government” that Mr. Bernays describes in the quote at the top of this post.  Our REAL needs actually consist of very little.  We need clean, healthy, nutritious foods; we need clean water; we need clothing for our body; we need adequate shelter; we need a mode of transportation; we need happy, functional relationships, and to be fully self actualize we need to find a form of self expression and service.

As far as REAL needs are concerned, they are few and far between.

But with concern for CONDITIONED needs enforced upon us by society, marketers and government… the list is endless!

According to the primary educator of American adults and children (the Television) we NEED — a newer car, a bigger plasma TV, nicer clothes, fancier furniture, a bigger wrist watch, $300 sunglasses, an iPhone, apps, a faster computer, stylish shoes, expensive jeans with holes in it, 6 pack abs, a tighter face, a tummy tuck, bigger lips, boobs and pecs, less body hair, a credit card or 12, Tickle Me Elmo, vaccinations, penis enhancement pills, longer eye lashes, to last longer in bed, a hotter wife, children who are “gifted”, crown moldings, bigger tires on your tuck, 2 sinks in your bathroom, Blue Ray stuff, to see the latest movie, to know about the latest news, to know about Brad and Angelina, have obnoxiously white teeth, ringtones, to look like the kid in the vampire movies, to be taller, to have smaller ankles, $100 t-shirts, skinny jeans, birth control pills, to take more aspirin, drink more red wine and to give to the Red Cross… this list can literally go on for days! — and if you don’t have anxiety from just reading this very short list, then assume you’ve been well indoctrinated… congratulations!

The fact is that EVERYONE is telling you exactly what you need to have, be and do. But how often do we stop, assess the situation and ask ourselves… What Do I REALLY need? (or value)

When I was in college I used to watch Rap videos with P-Diddy and Notorious BIG throwing huge parties on their yacht while dozens of beautiful women were grabbing at their expensive jeans while falling into a hypnotic trance by staring at the glittering diamonds embedded in the rappers teeth and watches… a $1,000 bottle of champagne in everyone’s hand — THIS, to me, was exactly what I wanted!!  What a picture perfect example of how life should be lived!

As I’ve matured (into my old, wise 30’s) I find that much of what I once longed for has lost its appeal. The idea of having to please several women and once (I can barely keep my 1 wife happy), while trying to keep my $10,000 suit free from marijuana blunt smudge, just sounds like too much of a headache to me now-a-days.

Of course I am over-exaggerating, but the fact is that for most of what I (and most of “us”) should be striving towards I have come to adopt my fathers simple sentiment that, “I just don’t think you need it.”

If you are currently of the conditioned mindset that I and Mr. Bernays describe above, what I am describing sounds like blasphemy! — “What are you Elliott?, some sort of a Communist?”

When in truth I have become so enamored with the idea and value of FREEDOM that I am terrified of the idea that someone else may be able to dictate my emotions to such a degree that I would alter that natural trajectory of my God-given life in order to fulfill false obligations that I truly have…. no need for.

Minimalism is the NEW Abundance!

It’s a paradox… “the paradox of plenty”!  It seems the more material possessions we have, the more information we are fed and the more choices we get… the more depressed we become.

<<Watch the video below, you may need to turn the volume up!>>

Now, don’t get me (or Jack) wrong here… I am all for enjoying the “chocolate frosting” of life but what often happens is that in our pursuit for the “frosting” we ignore the entire CAKE, the foundation upon which the frosting can be appreciated.  And if you have ever eaten frosting by itself you have surly experience the overwhelming sweetness that practically turns sickening after a few bites, followed by a massive sugar rush and subsequent crash.  You are left with nothing more than a  3 second memory of sweetness followed by a stomach ache, pounding head, and irritability.

Before we set our path in the direction of the “sweetness” so often portrayed as real nourishment by popular culture and media, lets first fulfill our TRUE needs to their fullest capacity.  This will allow for a much deeper and profound sense of stability and meaningfulness.

I invite you to consider…

Instead of taking on a new car payment (an unnecessary desire) => Spend $200 a month on Grass Fed Organic Beef (fulfilling a REAL need for clean, healthy food)

Instead of spending on new, in-fashion shoes and clothing => Spend $1000 on a whole home water filtration system (fulfilling the need for clean, unpolluted, fresh water)

Instead of buying thousands of dollars worth of useless toys for your children on “Black Friday” => Sign your family up for a local mission trip or donate your time, talent or treasure to hungry, handicap children (fulfilling a need to serve, contribute, and tribal association)

Instead of watching American Idol or 24 all weekend on your Tivo => Join a ballroom dance class with your wife or audit a college course (fulfilling a need for creativity and mental / physical growth)

Instead of self medicating with caffeine to increase energy and alcohol to relax => Start exercising in its various forms and read a relaxing book or learn how to meditate (fulfilling the need for healthy physical and mental stimulation).

By no means am I trying to manipulate your thinking to match mine (like the invisible government) but what I aim to establish in you is an awakening to the choices we make, why we make them, do we really value them, and ultimately to choose to spend our time and money on the things that we TRULY need.

As you experiment with this type of awareness, a funny thing typically happens.  What you’ve always thought you wanted, all the things you’ve worked so ambitiously towards… start to lose their appeal.  Dancing on yachts with half naked women while spilling champagne all over ourselves begins to sound — a little — silly.

When you’ve taken the time to asses and fulfill your TRUE needs to their fullest capacity (I say “fullest capacity”, because many will say, “I have food!”, yet skim milk, cereal and Checker’s can hardly be considered food) you’ll find that you’re very, very happy… with very, very little.

Related posts:

1. Strongman Training Journal part 2
2. Strongman Training Journal part 3
3. Strongman Training Journal Part 5
4. Strongman Training Journal Part 4
5. Strongman Training Journal part 1