How the Best Get Bigger

You know, there's this idea that we are all born with limitless potential.

Or at least a maximum potential.

And that things that happen to you over time slowly (or quickly) chop away at it.

Nothing increases your potential (it was always there), but lots of things, everything, can knock it down.

And I wrestle with this a bit.

I mean, I think I agree.

But it's sort of a downer, right?

You wonder how many good souls have been smashed by their lives.

How many beautiful things turned ugly simply by being born, raised, and lived in a certain place, in a certain time, around a certain person.

It's the whole nature versus nurture thing.

Some of us are born animals, but a lot of us stay wild. Or are turned it. I'm not sure which. Probably both.

Or even worse, they became domesticated.

Woof.

And so, I now look at the vast potential of youth. And think: How do I best preserve their infinite/maximum potential? 

As a man who believes I'd rather my loved ones be safe than sorry, I wrestle with the balance of how fun it is to take risks and challenge yourself versus keeping them out of danger (which is also somewhat dangerous).

How do I teach failure is ok, necessary even, when it hurts their tender hearts?

How do I not chop away?

Must I chop away?

How do I keep them perfect?

Can I keep them perfect?

I can see now, I was chopped away at.

We all are.

Over time. Over decades.

Over and over.

I was a big block of jagged rock.

I'd like to think I'm more chiseled now.

Smoother (but rougher).

A curated sculpture.

Work of art or some bull.

I sure am something, alright.

But I was more beautiful as a child.

Who cannot say that?

I'm sorry if you cannot say that.

My job then, is to learn what chops down, and what doesn't.

I think I know.

But like all things, I have to go back.

In the 90s, one of my heroes was Lee Haney, a bodybuilding icon. And I remember watching him train. And he was a funny dude for a big mamma jamma and he'd always repeat this line, even while hoisting comically large amounts of iron, as to how to best get bigger:

"Stimulate, don't annihilate, amateur!"

He'd call whoever he was training with, and you, an amateur.

Which I always appreciated.

As the guy who wore the Mr. Olympia title and defended it for a decade, I suppose everyone else was.

But I think that's it, Lee.

I think that's the key.

To turning pro or keeping things at optimum levels.

Avoid the annihilating chops.

Seek the stimulating ones.