{"id":670035,"date":"2026-08-24T13:34:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T17:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=670035"},"modified":"2026-08-24T13:34:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T17:34:31","slug":"invincible-body-invincible-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/24\/invincible-body-invincible-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Invincible body, invincible mind"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So the interesting idea of today, –> perhaps the secret of having an invincible mind is having an invincible body?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

why traveling is so difficult<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So back in LA after about 2 1\/2 months abroad, the last three weeks in which I had no access to a gym or weightlifting. Now that I have my garage gym back, I definitely feel like 1 billion times happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the tricky thing is, we tend to think that, somehow there is a disconnect between the body and mind. I think the deep truth is, the mind is a fiction, the body is real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

physiological truth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I think the reason why insanely hot sauna\u2019s baths, being in the water, swimming, being in the ocean\u2026 Or ice cold showers or ice, plunge or ice baths are so effective is\u2026 It certainly gives some sort of positive shock or distraction to your system, which is good for your emotional calibration and recalibration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, probably maybe 80% of the benefit of doing hot yoga is actually the fact that the room is insanely hot, in which\u2026 You literally cannot even think about all of your life, problems or issues, because\u2026 The heat gets you out of your mind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

access to weightlifting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For me, true happiness, enjoy is kind of simple\u2026 At least once, being able to lift weights, at least once a day? Even more fun when I am doing it with friends or buddies, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think about the ancient Spartans, it seems like perhaps 95% of their socialization happen, during their military training, exercise exercises, I could imagine them topless in the sun or the shade, chatting in between target practice, weapons, training, etc. Recently, I\u2019ve actually been training some local buddies of mine, and some new faces, I feel like I\u2019m starting my own fight club, we call it \u201cthe lab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But anyways, I think one big thing that I overlooked in terms of happiness or optimal human thriving is actually some sort of social manly club Joy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, should be told, funny enough some of the happiest moments of my life were probably in high school\u2026 When I had my tightly knit group of friends I would see every single day, multiple times a day, and we had that strong bond. College and university was great also in terms of social life, however\u2026 Funny enough high school feels a little bit more tribal, whereas University feels more cosmopolitan? Like in high school 90% of my friends were men, most of my close friends were men, and then once I went to college it was maybe like 50-50? Or because I studied sociology, maybe like 80% my friends were actually women?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the insight of fight club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My sister was telling me that apparently, the biggest issue in America is this male loneliness epidemic? My friend Chris also told me that, also apparently the amount of unhappy unmarried men are also at an all-time high?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

why Social<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is actually the big thing that I have been thinking about and pondering recently, yes, what is the purpose of this all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the biological physiological parts\u2026 It seems when we are social, there are certain positive bonding hormones which are emitted. Maybe with men it is testosterone, dopamine, and also\u2026 Some sort of hidden male bonding hormone? Some sort of masculine oxytocin?<\/em> \ufffc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think social skills are certainly the future, once you have the AI\u2019s being able to solve all the difficult mathematical and scientific stuff and engineering stuff, certainly all the suicidal issues and human related issues will remain, if not become more exacerbated. This is why\u2026 Also with my son, I really try to prioritize social skills communication etc. Even our summer abroad, I\u2019m so grateful that Seneca is learning about Khmer Cambodian culture, Hong Kong culture, Cantonese, Mandarin\u2026 As well as Japan and Japanese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

why does this matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One interesting observation that I have made is if you think about all media, they always involve human beings. Even the cartoons are just animated versions of human social relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So in some ways, when people watch media\u2026 What they really want is some sort of social connection<\/strong>. \ufffc this is why when you watch some sort of anime or long standing TV show series\u2026 These people actually in fact do become your friends. However the response is not reciprocal. \ufffc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

is the purpose of life to be Social?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The tricky thing, once again\u2026 It seems that our supreme Joy is being social, being part of a society, having Social bonds, communities clubs etc., yet, is the goal to be Social?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My thought is, without some sort of social life, you will be quite unhappy and perhaps miserable. Even the interesting insight is, when we just are surrounded by people we actually feel more at ease, even though we may not necessarily interact with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However being Social for the sake of being Social, once again is kind of fun and playful, but not the end goal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a higher purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cfor a man who has a WHY in life can always figure out a HOW to life\u201d- Nietzsche<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I think what we are all searching for is some sort of higher purpose to life. Even Elon Musk, his grand life mission is to make humans interplanetary go to Mars etc. Capital is jet fuel, simply as a means to get there<\/strong>.\ufffc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another big thought that I have is, your life purpose doesn\u2019t need to be connected to your economic output purpose. For example, it\u2019s probably better to be some sort of investment banker and do 100% volunteering work on the side rather than being some sort of underpaid and overstressed and overworked social worker?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cindy says in Vietnamese culture there is the left-hand job and the right hand job. The left-hand job is I think what pays the bills, the right hand job is your passion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufffcSo now what<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If we think about memento mori, the fact that, you might die today, and or, To output at least once a day, your life passion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think for myself, perhaps the greatest contribution I could make to humanity is perhaps philosophical, that involves these essays, or attempts of gaining deeper insights about life etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore as a practice, my simple tactic is first thing in the morning, after I have my morning coffee, are you intentionally try to start the day without any sort of external media or information to enter my short-term consciousness, to use this valuable mind space time to think, recollect, and also write and voice dictate these essays? To also Vlog, and to propagate these ideas? Perhaps in terms of a good day, at least one hike, at least one propagation of thoughts, weightlifting, then my life should be good?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

discovering your deeper life purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Honestly I think we all know what it is, but we always try to justify it, in terms of the economic output? However, once again\u2026 I think it is a good idea to separate the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose or way of life is growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming setbacks, and once again, growing and growing is perhaps the way of life and nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, imagine a tree, a huge sequoia or pine tree or even a weed, you chop it in half, 70%, 90%, or even to the bottom of the stump, and what happens? It always grows back! Whether we try to force it or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stamp or the tree or the shrub or the weed, will start to regrow, have new tender shoots, and start to regrow again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also something I have discovered in life is, maybe a lesson from weightlifting is it is not about hitting a certain number, or after getting injured, regaining your old personal records, but rather, using the injury and pain as information to pioneer a new technique and approach, which doesn\u2019t cause pain, but rather, increases your strength and power, simply by innovating the technique, leverage and form?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, I\u2019ve certainly messed up my back my lower back, my spine several times, from dead lifting off the floor. First from conventional, then I injured myself, then, this was the stimulus to having to switch to sumo, then, another very major injury from sumo dead lift off the floor, and then after much experimentation, discovering the rack pull, then some minor injuries from using mixed grip, which caught me to using simple dead lifting straps, and then once I snapped those twice, to the figure 8 dead lifting straps?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore as a principle, the big idea is, whenever you get injured, whether a small or minor, or extremely big injuries, which take months, if not years of recovery\u2026 Rather than feeling regret, instead, gaining insight wisdom and the opportunity for innovation<\/strong>, Like if I never injured myself just doing traditional conventional deadlifts off the floor, I would have never been able to lift 1,323.43108 KG \/ 2,917.19 LBS–> video link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

is the purpose of life pain avoidance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My idea is, it\u2019s like not paying or tragedy or all these negative emotions for the sake of things, but rather, having some sort of very grand life mission and goal, and thinking about everything in life just like a minor setback or delay or interesting challenge opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re like 85, 90, 95, 100, 120 years old \ufffc and you\u2019re on your deathbed, you probably would not care about your capital stack, whatever that number is, also I think it is fine to die with the regrets, because it is impossible for any human being on the planet to survive that long, without at least one or several deep tragedies and regrets? Perhaps the only regret we can have in life is the regret of knowing what your life passion admission and goal is, but, not adequately devoting enough energy or focus to it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like if Elon dies and we do not make it to Mars, certainly it will be the worst death, but at least\u2026 He knew that he gave it his all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And maybe, the only thing which should be expected of us, is to ascertain your life mission, and to simply give it your all?<\/strong> And success and failure doesn\u2019t really matter, but rather the grandeur of the attempt?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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cyber training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ufffc
I\u2019m currently pulling with the idea of maybe doing some sort of cyber online coaching for fitness health, or philosophy etc. If you\u2019re interested, email me at eric@erickim.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CYBER LINEN SHIRT<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As of yesterday only three left in stock. Don\u2019t miss your opportunity to grab the perfect shirt<\/a>, of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conquer it all:<\/p>\n\n\n\n