[Applause] [Music]
we are all very familiar with the notion
we are all very familiar with the notion that our mind has a strong influence
that our mind has a strong influence
that our mind has a strong influence over our body but is also the opposite
over our body but is also the opposite
over our body but is also the opposite true I believe that the quality of your
true I believe that the quality of your
true I believe that the quality of your body does have an influence on the
body does have an influence on the
body does have an influence on the quality of your mind most of our parents
quality of your mind most of our parents
quality of your mind most of our parents would appraise activities such as
would appraise activities such as
would appraise activities such as studying or reading a book but what
studying or reading a book but what
studying or reading a book but what about cultivating your body often sport
about cultivating your body often sport
about cultivating your body often sport is encouraged as an extracurricular
is encouraged as an extracurricular
is encouraged as an extracurricular activity parents are after the social
activity parents are after the social
activity parents are after the social benefits of a sport or they see the true
benefits of a sport or they see the true
benefits of a sport or they see the true cerebral skills such as discipline and
cerebral skills such as discipline and
cerebral skills such as discipline and consistency which can be applied to
consistency which can be applied to
consistency which can be applied to other less physical aspects of your life
other less physical aspects of your life
other less physical aspects of your life I have dedicated my own life to
I have dedicated my own life to
I have dedicated my own life to cultivating my body and my mind with
cultivating my body and my mind with
cultivating my body and my mind with equal effort so I would like to tell you
equal effort so I would like to tell you
equal effort so I would like to tell you why I did it
why I did it
why I did it and analyze what real motivation is I
and analyze what real motivation is I
and analyze what real motivation is I believe that in life everything can be
believe that in life everything can be
believe that in life everything can be learned or exercised but motivation is
learned or exercised but motivation is
learned or exercised but motivation is what drives this process this is true
what drives this process this is true
what drives this process this is true for life generally but in sport
for life generally but in sport
for life generally but in sport especially since we need to endure
especially since we need to endure
especially since we need to endure physical pain and fatigue in order to
physical pain and fatigue in order to
physical pain and fatigue in order to achieve results so let’s begin with
achieve results so let’s begin with
achieve results so let’s begin with motivation there are generally speaking
motivation there are generally speaking
motivation there are generally speaking two types of motivation intrinsic and
two types of motivation intrinsic and
two types of motivation intrinsic and extrinsic commonly used examples for
extrinsic commonly used examples for
extrinsic commonly used examples for these would be physical pleasure as an
these would be physical pleasure as an
these would be physical pleasure as an intrinsic reward or approval in success
intrinsic reward or approval in success
intrinsic reward or approval in success as motivation coming from the outside
as motivation coming from the outside
as motivation coming from the outside but let’s take a closer look at
but let’s take a closer look at
but let’s take a closer look at intrinsic motivation from neuroscience
intrinsic motivation from neuroscience
intrinsic motivation from neuroscience we know that our internal reward stimuli
we know that our internal reward stimuli
we know that our internal reward stimuli are controlled by the synthesis of
are controlled by the synthesis of
are controlled by the synthesis of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter and
dopamine which is a neurotransmitter and
dopamine which is a neurotransmitter and in this neurotransmitter induces two
in this neurotransmitter induces two
in this neurotransmitter induces two different types of behavior which I will
different types of behavior which I will
different types of behavior which I will simply call wanting and liking wanting
simply call wanting and liking wanting
simply call wanting and liking wanting is the us is associated with the drive
is the us is associated with the drive
is the us is associated with the drive pushes us towards a reward and liking is
pushes us towards a reward and liking is
pushes us towards a reward and liking is associated with the pleasure in
associated with the pleasure in
associated with the pleasure in consuming that reward we can also think
consuming that reward we can also think
consuming that reward we can also think of the liking as the element that
of the liking as the element that
of the liking as the element that teaches us that something is good which
teaches us that something is good which
teaches us that something is good which in turn strengthens the wanting for that
in turn strengthens the wanting for that
in turn strengthens the wanting for that very thing of course we need to
very thing of course we need to
very thing of course we need to experience something in order to be able
experience something in order to be able
experience something in order to be able to like it
to like it
to like it so all I’m trying to say here is that
so all I’m trying to say here is that
so all I’m trying to say here is that intrinsic motivation itself is shaped by
intrinsic motivation itself is shaped by
intrinsic motivation itself is shaped by experience and this applies also to
experience and this applies also to
experience and this applies also to working out this is because there is a
working out this is because there is a
working out this is because there is a strong physical pleasure component in
strong physical pleasure component in
strong physical pleasure component in working out and it increases the filter
working out and it increases the filter
working out and it increases the filter we are since being fit reduces the
we are since being fit reduces the
we are since being fit reduces the strain required in performing a
strain required in performing a
strain required in performing a particular move so the more we work out
particular move so the more we work out
particular move so the more we work out the more we actually become motivated to
the more we actually become motivated to
the more we actually become motivated to work out because then we consume the
work out because then we consume the
work out because then we consume the liking part of physical exertion so we
liking part of physical exertion so we
liking part of physical exertion so we strengthen the wanting for that
strengthen the wanting for that
strengthen the wanting for that this means that in a way we become
this means that in a way we become
this means that in a way we become addicted to exercise but I’ve explained
addicted to exercise but I’ve explained
addicted to exercise but I’ve explained how we want to exercise more than what
how we want to exercise more than what
how we want to exercise more than what we exercise but surely now you must
we exercise but surely now you must
we exercise but surely now you must think what is the element initially
think what is the element initially
think what is the element initially pushes us to reaching this level in
pushes us to reaching this level in
pushes us to reaching this level in which I exercise so much that that in
which I exercise so much that that in
which I exercise so much that that in itself is motivating me there must be
itself is motivating me there must be
itself is motivating me there must be some other type of intrinsic motivation
some other type of intrinsic motivation
some other type of intrinsic motivation or some other type of initial motivation
or some other type of initial motivation
or some other type of initial motivation given that so far I’ve been talking
given that so far I’ve been talking
given that so far I’ve been talking about an intrinsic motivation mechanism
about an intrinsic motivation mechanism
about an intrinsic motivation mechanism perhaps one might think that some sort
perhaps one might think that some sort
perhaps one might think that some sort of extrinsic motivation is the initial
of extrinsic motivation is the initial
of extrinsic motivation is the initial motivation however I think that
motivation however I think that
motivation however I think that extrinsic motivation on its own is not
extrinsic motivation on its own is not
extrinsic motivation on its own is not sufficient to initially test our
sufficient to initially test our
sufficient to initially test our physical limits this is because the
physical limits this is because the
physical limits this is because the external external motivation can only be
external external motivation can only be
external external motivation can only be envisioned
envisioned
envisioned and a rational viewpoint of course
and a rational viewpoint of course
and a rational viewpoint of course having aesthetic physic is praised and
having aesthetic physic is praised and
having aesthetic physic is praised and winning in sport is admired but it’s
winning in sport is admired but it’s
winning in sport is admired but it’s only when we actually experience this
only when we actually experience this
only when we actually experience this that we can internalize them so we like
that we can internalize them so we like
that we can internalize them so we like the experience and we will want more of
the experience and we will want more of
the experience and we will want more of that
that
that but extrinsic motivation initially can
but extrinsic motivation initially can
but extrinsic motivation initially can only push us towards participation but
only push us towards participation but
only push us towards participation but not necessarily effort so participation
not necessarily effort so participation
not necessarily effort so participation would be for example showing up at the
would be for example showing up at the
would be for example showing up at the gym an effort would be pushing the extra
gym an effort would be pushing the extra
gym an effort would be pushing the extra rep in what we are working out so
rep in what we are working out so
rep in what we are working out so participation is more common than effort
participation is more common than effort
participation is more common than effort we see many people showing up the gym
we see many people showing up the gym
we see many people showing up the gym they have their gear their supplements
they have their gear their supplements
they have their gear their supplements their you know all routine with written
their you know all routine with written
their you know all routine with written plans but all of this is just extended
plans but all of this is just extended
plans but all of this is just extended participation so there must be something
participation so there must be something
participation so there must be something else that initially pushes us and
else that initially pushes us and
else that initially pushes us and something else at the foundation of our
something else at the foundation of our
something else at the foundation of our effort and this must come not only from
effort and this must come not only from
effort and this must come not only from experiencing firsthand the benefits of
experiencing firsthand the benefits of
experiencing firsthand the benefits of exercising but believing deep down that
exercising but believing deep down that
exercising but believing deep down that it is the right thing to do for example
it is the right thing to do for example
it is the right thing to do for example I never had anyone telling me to workout
I never had anyone telling me to workout
I never had anyone telling me to workout if anything all the opposite but I
if anything all the opposite but I
if anything all the opposite but I really believed in it and I’ve never
really believed in it and I’ve never
really believed in it and I’ve never done it for other people’s approval it’s
done it for other people’s approval it’s
done it for other people’s approval it’s like it’s a bit like when you go to
like it’s a bit like when you go to
like it’s a bit like when you go to school it shouldn’t be for the grades
school it shouldn’t be for the grades
school it shouldn’t be for the grades but it should be for your own education
but it should be for your own education
but it should be for your own education and betterment this reminds me of a
and betterment this reminds me of a
and betterment this reminds me of a quote from the philosopher Epicurus who
quote from the philosopher Epicurus who
quote from the philosopher Epicurus who said that among other gratifications
said that among other gratifications
said that among other gratifications give up the one that comes from other
give up the one that comes from other
give up the one that comes from other people approval and that was 300 BC so a
people approval and that was 300 BC so a
people approval and that was 300 BC so a long time ago when trying to achieve
long time ago when trying to achieve
long time ago when trying to achieve something remarkable one should do it
something remarkable one should do it
something remarkable one should do it because they believe it intrinsically
because they believe it intrinsically
because they believe it intrinsically good and that goes for both your mind
good and that goes for both your mind
good and that goes for both your mind and your body so now you might ask why
and your body so now you might ask why
and your body so now you might ask why then should we believe that working out
then should we believe that working out
then should we believe that working out is intrinsically good which is the key
is intrinsically good which is the key
is intrinsically good which is the key question here clearly we need to first
question here clearly we need to first
question here clearly we need to first understand the importance of our body
understand the importance of our body
understand the importance of our body and the value of it we all know a
and the value of it we all know a
and the value of it we all know a variety of reasons for which we should
variety of reasons for which we should
variety of reasons for which we should you know maintain our body it’s good for
you know maintain our body it’s good for
you know maintain our body it’s good for your health it makes you look good it
your health it makes you look good it
your health it makes you look good it makes you feel good and so on but right
makes you feel good and so on but right
makes you feel good and so on but right now I’m looking for a more existential
now I’m looking for a more existential
now I’m looking for a more existential reason the relationship between mind and
reason the relationship between mind and
reason the relationship between mind and body has been at the center of Western
body has been at the center of Western
body has been at the center of Western philosophy for centuries the main
philosophy for centuries the main
philosophy for centuries the main question has always been of which comes
question has always been of which comes
question has always been of which comes first the body or the mind in classical
first the body or the mind in classical
first the body or the mind in classical times great importance was attributed to
times great importance was attributed to
times great importance was attributed to the body mens sana in corpore Sano
the body mens sana in corpore Sano
the body mens sana in corpore Sano healthy mind and healthy body as by far
healthy mind and healthy body as by far
healthy mind and healthy body as by far being always my favorite latin motto
being always my favorite latin motto
being always my favorite latin motto this morality of the healthy body was
this morality of the healthy body was
this morality of the healthy body was lost with the rise of Christianity and
lost with the rise of Christianity and
lost with the rise of Christianity and the decline of the Roman Empire in
the decline of the Roman Empire in
the decline of the Roman Empire in Christianity the body is degraded in
Christianity the body is degraded in
Christianity the body is degraded in favor of an eternal and very valuable
favor of an eternal and very valuable
favor of an eternal and very valuable soul so even later on at the inception
soul so even later on at the inception
soul so even later on at the inception of modern philosophy the body was still
of modern philosophy the body was still
of modern philosophy the body was still considered secondary for example the
considered secondary for example the
considered secondary for example the cart who is considered the father of
cart who is considered the father of
cart who is considered the father of rationalism reduced the human being to a
rationalism reduced the human being to a
rationalism reduced the human being to a purely thinking thing his starting point
purely thinking thing his starting point
purely thinking thing his starting point was a fundamental doubt he asked if also
was a fundamental doubt he asked if also
was a fundamental doubt he asked if also when I’m asleep and I’m dreaming I seem
when I’m asleep and I’m dreaming I seem
when I’m asleep and I’m dreaming I seem to be feeling things around me and
to be feeling things around me and
to be feeling things around me and seeing things then how do I know that
seeing things then how do I know that
seeing things then how do I know that reality itself isn’t an illusion in
reality itself isn’t an illusion in
reality itself isn’t an illusion in order to have any certainty at all the
order to have any certainty at all the
order to have any certainty at all the first thing to do is to eliminate
first thing to do is to eliminate
first thing to do is to eliminate anything that can be doubted but only
anything that can be doubted but only
anything that can be doubted but only thing that remains certain is that I’m
thing that remains certain is that I’m
thing that remains certain is that I’m thinking about all of these things
thinking about all of these things
thinking about all of these things whether they’re real or not
whether they’re real or not
whether they’re real or not cause you two are gone I think therefore
cause you two are gone I think therefore
cause you two are gone I think therefore I am
I am
I am this means that the mind is what
this means that the mind is what
this means that the mind is what determines our existence so in a way the
determines our existence so in a way the
determines our existence so in a way the mind comes before the body and even our
mind comes before the body and even our
mind comes before the body and even our sensations according to the card are
sensations according to the card are
sensations according to the card are only different modes of thinking this
only different modes of thinking this
only different modes of thinking this supremacy of the mind over the body has
supremacy of the mind over the body has
supremacy of the mind over the body has truly shaped Western culture so studying
truly shaped Western culture so studying
truly shaped Western culture so studying for example is universally accepted as a
for example is universally accepted as a
for example is universally accepted as a good thing a positive thing but taking
good thing a positive thing but taking
good thing a positive thing but taking care of your body building a physique is
care of your body building a physique is
care of your body building a physique is still more niche and in many occasions
still more niche and in many occasions
still more niche and in many occasions is considered vain right now I’d like to
is considered vain right now I’d like to
is considered vain right now I’d like to see things from a different perspective
see things from a different perspective
see things from a different perspective I just presented the fact that you know
I just presented the fact that you know
I just presented the fact that you know the mind as a strong influence over your
the mind as a strong influence over your
the mind as a strong influence over your body under a rationalist viewpoint which
body under a rationalist viewpoint which
body under a rationalist viewpoint which is a in many way a positive message but
is a in many way a positive message but
is a in many way a positive message but also the opposite can be a positive
also the opposite can be a positive
also the opposite can be a positive message and this was later offered by
message and this was later offered by
message and this was later offered by existentialism so Kierkegaard who is
existentialism so Kierkegaard who is
existentialism so Kierkegaard who is considered the first existentialist
considered the first existentialist
considered the first existentialist philosopher stated that the human reason
philosopher stated that the human reason
philosopher stated that the human reason as bandar-e so a very opposing view with
as bandar-e so a very opposing view with
as bandar-e so a very opposing view with respect to rationalism and Sartre in the
respect to rationalism and Sartre in the
respect to rationalism and Sartre in the twentieth century
twentieth century
twentieth century asserted that existence comes before
asserted that existence comes before
asserted that existence comes before essence which means that each one of us
essence which means that each one of us
essence which means that each one of us is uniquely responsible for our own self
is uniquely responsible for our own self
is uniquely responsible for our own self affirmation and purpose or to put it
affirmation and purpose or to put it
affirmation and purpose or to put it more simply we need to act existence
more simply we need to act existence
more simply we need to act existence before we can think existence and not
before we can think existence and not
before we can think existence and not vice versa
vice versa
vice versa like rationalism we’ll have it this
like rationalism we’ll have it this
like rationalism we’ll have it this implicitly is a reaffirmation of the
implicitly is a reaffirmation of the
implicitly is a reaffirmation of the importance of the body as the element
importance of the body as the element
importance of the body as the element establishing our resistance in this
establishing our resistance in this
establishing our resistance in this world under an existentialist viewpoint
world under an existentialist viewpoint
world under an existentialist viewpoint therefore the body comes before the mind
therefore the body comes before the mind
therefore the body comes before the mind some people might not like this view
some people might not like this view
some people might not like this view well they might say well you give so
well they might say well you give so
well they might say well you give so much importance to the body but what
much importance to the body but what
much importance to the body but what about the soul
about the soul
about the soul giving importance to the body does not
giving importance to the body does not
giving importance to the body does not demean the importance of the soul
demean the importance of the soul
demean the importance of the soul in fact under an existentialist
in fact under an existentialist
in fact under an existentialist viewpoint there is still room for God
viewpoint there is still room for God
viewpoint there is still room for God and spiritualism we could for example
and spiritualism we could for example
and spiritualism we could for example like Kierkegaard justed admit the limits
like Kierkegaard justed admit the limits
like Kierkegaard justed admit the limits of human reason and reach God through a
of human reason and reach God through a
of human reason and reach God through a leap of faith of course a very different
leap of faith of course a very different
leap of faith of course a very different view was held by Nietzsche who declared
view was held by Nietzsche who declared
view was held by Nietzsche who declared the death of God in favor of an
the death of God in favor of an
the death of God in favor of an all-powerful and self affirming
all-powerful and self affirming
all-powerful and self affirming lifeforce with this life force the body
lifeforce with this life force the body
lifeforce with this life force the body becomes once again the epicentre of our
becomes once again the epicentre of our
becomes once again the epicentre of our intelligence like he was in classical
intelligence like he was in classical
intelligence like he was in classical times purer and more honest of speech is
times purer and more honest of speech is
times purer and more honest of speech is the healthy body perfect and square
the healthy body perfect and square
the healthy body perfect and square built and he speaks of the meaning of
built and he speaks of the meaning of
built and he speaks of the meaning of the earth I love this quote from the
the earth I love this quote from the
the earth I love this quote from the book the vast Spoke Zarathustra so
book the vast Spoke Zarathustra so
book the vast Spoke Zarathustra so appreciating the philosophical
appreciating the philosophical
appreciating the philosophical importance of the body is the first step
importance of the body is the first step
importance of the body is the first step when trying to establish how the body
when trying to establish how the body
when trying to establish how the body affects the mind I want to explore this
affects the mind I want to explore this
affects the mind I want to explore this a bit further when practicing
a bit further when practicing
a bit further when practicing mindfulness one focus is deeply on
mindfulness one focus is deeply on
mindfulness one focus is deeply on sensations in order to achieve the sense
sensations in order to achieve the sense
sensations in order to achieve the sense of unity with the surrounding which
of unity with the surrounding which
of unity with the surrounding which ultimately is a gratifying effect on the
ultimately is a gratifying effect on the
ultimately is a gratifying effect on the mind this can be compared to the
mind this can be compared to the
mind this can be compared to the experience of meditation in which via
experience of meditation in which via
experience of meditation in which via the careful control of your body through
the careful control of your body through
the careful control of your body through stillness breathing and posture one can
stillness breathing and posture one can
stillness breathing and posture one can attain an ecstatic state of the mind a
attain an ecstatic state of the mind a
attain an ecstatic state of the mind a very comparable state can be actually
very comparable state can be actually
very comparable state can be actually achieved through the practice of sports
achieved through the practice of sports
achieved through the practice of sports especially endurance sports and sports
especially endurance sports and sports
especially endurance sports and sports they require high level of focus or they
they require high level of focus or they
they require high level of focus or they involve high levels of adrenaline the
involve high levels of adrenaline the
involve high levels of adrenaline the effect of adrenaline and endorphins in
effect of adrenaline and endorphins in
effect of adrenaline and endorphins in my view can lead to an almost mystical
my view can lead to an almost mystical
my view can lead to an almost mystical experience I have personally experienced
experience I have personally experienced
experience I have personally experienced in some circumstances reduced sense of
in some circumstances reduced sense of
in some circumstances reduced sense of subjectivity and an enhanced sense of
subjectivity and an enhanced sense of
subjectivity and an enhanced sense of gratitude so simply put stimulating my
gratitude so simply put stimulating my
gratitude so simply put stimulating my body as
body as
body as wrong effect on my mind insofar as the
wrong effect on my mind insofar as the
wrong effect on my mind insofar as the experiences are just described make me
experiences are just described make me
experiences are just described make me happier and this kind of reward will
happier and this kind of reward will
happier and this kind of reward will reinforce the intrinsic motivation like
reinforce the intrinsic motivation like
reinforce the intrinsic motivation like explained earlier by strengthening the
explained earlier by strengthening the
explained earlier by strengthening the one thing for that so believe in your
one thing for that so believe in your
one thing for that so believe in your body using your mind and push your mind
body using your mind and push your mind
body using your mind and push your mind using your body
using your body
using your body find your own intrinsic motivation in
find your own intrinsic motivation in
find your own intrinsic motivation in philosophy and in exercise you don’t
philosophy and in exercise you don’t
philosophy and in exercise you don’t have to choose to be either an
have to choose to be either an
have to choose to be either an intellectual on an athlete you can and
intellectual on an athlete you can and
intellectual on an athlete you can and you should really be both thank you
you should really be both thank you
you should really be both thank you [Applause]
”
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