Lift Weights, Carry Groceries

“Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.” — Zen Buddhist proverb

Chopping wood & carrying water represent the mundane tasks of daily life.

Before enlightenment you must engage in your routines and handle your responsibilities.

After enlightenment you must engage in your routines and handle your responsibilities.

Your tasks & responsibilities remain the same regardless of whether you’re enlightened. The difference lies in your perspective and understanding. After enlightenment, you do each activity with awareness, mindfulness, and appreciation.

Enlightenment isn’t about escaping your responsibilities. It’s finding a deeper purpose and connection to them.

Embrace the tedious tasks. Find joy and meaning in your everyday duties.

Your body may be busy, but your mind is still. You’re present instead of preoccupied. You’re focused on the process rather than the result.

What is Enlightenment?

Am I an expert on Enlightenment? No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Enlightenment is often described as a state of deep peace, profound understanding, and freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Enlightenment is the complete & permanent end of suffering.

Buddhists believe anyone can attain Enlightenment through their own efforts and practice.

I believe you can attain a nice little Enlightenment through your own efforts and practice (hopefully I can too).

I know what you’re thinking…

“But, Steve, wtf does all this have to do with having a nice little body?”

Ok, fine. I’ll tell you…

“Before having a nice little body; lift weights, carry groceries. After having a nice little body; lift weights, carry groceries.” — Nice Little proverb

Lifting weights & carrying groceries represent the mundane tasks of having a nice little body.

Before having a nice little body you must engage in your routines of lifting weights and carrying groceries.

After having a nice little body you must engage in your routines of lifting weights and carrying groceries.

Your tasks & responsibilities remain the same regardless of whether you have a nice little body. The difference lies in your perspective and understanding. After having a nice little body, you do these activities with awareness, mindfulness, and appreciation.

Embrace the tedious tasks. Find joy and meaning in your everyday duties.

Your body may be busy, but your mind is still. You’re present instead of preoccupied. You’re focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Of course we all want to be JACKED!

Don’t place your happiness on a result or external metrics. This causes suffering.

Having a nice little body isn’t about achieving a certain look*. It’s not about chasing an end goal. There’s no place to “get to.”

Having a nice little body is being at peace. It’s mindfully embracing the routine and loving the process.

Find beauty in your daily tasks.

Appreciate the present moment… whether you’re lifting, talking to someone in the supermarket, cooking, eating… Whatever you’re doing, bring your full attention to the experience.

Cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for simply being alive. Be grateful for the ability to move your body and eat delicious food.

Enlightenment is a state, not a destination.

Having a nice little body is a state, not a destination.

*don’t worry, we’re still gonna get JACKED in the process.

Comedian Tom Segura recently reached Nirvana. He explained on Theo Von’s podcast…

[Nirvana = a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.]

Theo: So you got into fitness recently, huh?

Tom: You know what happened… I always did it somewhat. I would get to a certain point and I would have the mentality of, ‘Oh, I got there. The race is over. I’m done. Now I’m good.’ That happened like… 10 times or more.

Theo: Uh-huh. Yeah.

Tom: And what happens when you go, ‘I’m done,’ you just kind of retreat back to old habits and you get out of shape. And you’re like, oh fuck, how did this happen again!? And then you do it again… you workout, you eat clean, you lose weight… and then you get to the number again and then you pull back. I got so frustrated and realized I have to take this more seriously… The difference is, I no longer say if I see a number on a scale I like, that means I’m good. I realized that there is no end… it’s just continuous.

Theo: Right. Ok.

Tom: As cliché as it sounds, this can be a lifestyle change. I realize how much I’m affected, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally in a good way by working out a lot… Waking up, going to the gym right away. I’m just having a better day. I’m happier. I’m moving around better. I look better, feel better. I have better creative days. It’s all tied together. I just made it part of what I do.

Lift weights, carry groceries.

Thank you for reading.

feel great. rock a nice little bod. enjoy life.

steve