THE ROOT 9: 15.1

Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning holds a special place among my favorite books. While it's a profoundly heavy memoir of Frankl's time in Nazi concentration camps, recounting the dehumanization and suffering he witnessed, it also introduces Frankl’s Logotherapy. This powerful psychological approach centers on helping individuals find meaning in their lives, especially during hardship and suffering.

During Frankl’s time in the camps, he observed that some prisoners, despite unimaginable conditions, retained a sense of inner freedom and meaning. They chose to comfort others, share their meager rations, or maintain a defiant spirit. This demonstrated that even when external circumstances are beyond our control, our inner attitude can remain our own. This is a cornerstone of Logotherapy, which posits that our primary motivation as humans is the search for meaning. While external freedoms can be stripped away, the ultimate internal freedom to choose our response to any situation always remains, allowing us to find meaning even in suffering.

While Frankl writes from a context of intense suffering, his message offers a broader truth about the importance of how we frame all experiences in our lives. This week, I'm focusing on remembering and acknowledging the autonomy we have over dictating our internal freedom. By actively choosing a hopeful, resilient, or problem-solving attitude, we cultivate inner resilience, strengthening our capacity to navigate difficulties. This ultimately impacts our stress levels, productivity, and overall sense of control and peace.

Smart Cardio for Muscle Preservation

As part of my workout routine, I love running and strength training, but hybrid training requires a delicate balance of ensuring cardio is incorporated to maintain overall heart health without losing muscle mass I am working on during strength training sessions.

One of the main reasons muscle loss can occur during cardio is because long-distance or frequent running increases muscle protein breakdown. Our bodies use muscle glycogen (stored carbohydrates) as a primary fuel source during cardio, and by increasing muscle protein breakdown, our bodies can start to cannibalize some of our potential muscle gain. This can be exacerbated if we aren't consuming enough protein.

My favorite way to incorporate cardio into my routine during a period when I’m focused on maximizing muscle development is the stair stepper. This movement primarily involves concentric contractions—think pressing upward with the quads, glutes, and calves. This creates tension without significant muscle damage, preserving muscle mass compared to eccentric-dominant cardio like downhill walking or running. Essentially, your heart rate gets less elevated than it would during a run, still providing cardiovascular benefits without the more extreme muscle protein breakdown a run might cause.

If this is a goal of yours, I encourage you to incorporate 30-45 minutes on the stairs as your cardio. I typically do a 7-9 speed on a StairMaster to keep my heart rate lower yet incorporate cardio into my routine.

Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers" beautifully illustrates how our personal desires for life's path may not always be granted, revealing a deeper wisdom at play. It subtly emphasizes that while external circumstances may not align with our initial wishes, we possess autonomy in choosing our internal response—cultivating faith and trust—to find profound meaning even when life takes an unexpected course.

Tying to our intention for the week, the journey highlights that a sense of purpose can emerge from accepting what is, rather than clinging to what we thought should be.

If you are not in the mood for country, here is a funky alternative track I’ve been loving by Low Hum and Navah Sea.