Condition. Reality.

This is the third essay in POISON, written circa 2010-2011. And the above image is from 2016 when Jason was training for Justice League.

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I’ve been thinking about how machines like a leg press constrain movement to the trajectory defined by the machine design: we move within it. I draw the parallel to the rules we create to define a method, the words we speak and repeat to explain it. The ideas we once strived to reach and understand become the very things that limit growth and keep us from continuing to explore. We used our freedom to write the words that became the rules that enslaved us. We become conditioned.

Burkey who founded Station 515 wrote the following phrase, and later developed the idea in a post on his site here.

"Our conditioning determines our reality."

The idea moved me and it is bigger than it reads. We read and assimilate those words through the lens of our prejudice. The health and fitness pro takes them as reference to fitness, that differing levels of strength and conditioning allow or prevent access to different experience. Someone else might take the phrase as commentary on social pressure and how it affects individual aspiration or the limitations we so easily agree to abide.

Conditioning is so much more. Using the metaphor of fitness, when we push or pull along the defined tracks of a leg press or lat pull machine we are being conditioned physically but the machine constrains movement to such a degree that it influences our expectations and goals as well. Exclusive use of such machines helps to develop an entire way of thinking. We choose this unconsciously, voluntarily, whenever we use those machines and that choice and action influences how we behave outside of the gym.

Do we use those machines because we don't believe in our own ability to execute the same movement alone, without its guidance? Do we subscribe to particular belief systems regarding fitness — hell, with regard to anything — because we do not trust ourselves to decide for ourselves? The machine is easy, and everyone else is using it so clearly it's safe. Following the rules (or following orders) makes living easy too because we don't have to think for ourselves. We simply obey.

How does that sound? Do you want more? Or do you want to change?

We are conditioned by our environment.

We are conditioned by our experiences, for better and worse.

We are conditioned by the thoughts we think. But we can change those.

We are conditioned by the means we habitually use to assess and solve problems. We can change those too.

We are conditioned, period.

We can affect that conditioning.

We can affect our reality.

I always come back to the simple stuff: we become what we do, we become who we hang around. The effect is stronger as we become more aware, and more sensitive. But the stronger and more independent we make ourselves the better we can steer all influence.

We choose our environment. We choose who we hang around. We do the things that take us closer to who we want to become. Over and over. So we must constantly pay attention to how those people and our actions affect us. When we do the value of someone becomes an easy distinction: their influence takes us closer to, or further from our ultimate objective. Same goes for what we do. So decide what and who you allow into your orbit.

Some people need the attention of a knife. If they distract or slow your progress then cut them loose. Do the same with your habits. No matter the context. If your actions in the gym aren't helping, if they are reinforcing the condition you want to change then stop. If you aren't sure or you can't prove it then you are wasting time. Do you like the sound of that? Busy does not mean productive. Pain does not imply gain.

A sword has two edges. Intellect is weapon with many, many more. You're smart, right? So prove it.