Venkatesh Rao ☀️ on Warpcast

Venkatesh Rao ☀️ pfp

Venkatesh Rao ☀️

My theory on people who are able to exercise consistently (in non-sport ways) and even perhaps enjoy it is that they have non-narrative mindsets. Psyche strongly shaped by current state rather than memories/history. They also tend to eschew theorizing past and future. They view past as data and future as blank canvas for planning. They don’t see the two as strong,y connected by a theorizable narrative logic. I can only exercise consistently in particular narrative phases. Otherwise even minor things can derail me.

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Sachin pfp

I just have a little constant narrative in my head that Im unhealthy which is tiring but gets me to the gym

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sean pfp

Create a future narrative for yourself with specific exercise goals. Make it very specific — a run time or distance, a bench press or deadlift weight target, a pushup goal, etc The longer you create memories of yourself achieving small goals, the more creating and keeping future ones becomes your new narrative

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Taylor Sizemore pfp

Taylor Sizemore

@taylorsizemore.eth

Habits that involve cardio or intense physical activity are only possible consistently for non-narrative mindsets? I have not found it easy to exercise with any sense of regularity myself. I'm not sure I have a narrative mindset. Maybe it's easier for some to build the habit, but it couldn't be impossible to maintain.

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Kyle Mathews pfp

Huh what does going on a walk or something feel like when you're in your non-exercise mode? I just find it pleasant to be outside and wandering about. And I find it really unpleasant when I'm hurt or in poor enough shape to not be able to do those things (e.g. last six months I've had tendon issues which have limited walking to 5-6k steps / day so my world feels shrunken). But I don't feel disconnected or mindless when exercising -- it's when I do a lot of my best thinking. The llm apps with really good voice mode have been game changers for this as I can brain dump a bunch while moving.

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typeof.eth 🔵 pfp

typeof.eth 🔵

I exercise almost every day and I heavily theorize the future. The main driver to exercise for me is that my mental health is better when I consistently exercise.

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Matthew McDowell-Sweet pfp

Matthew McDowell-Sweet

Kinda rhymes with my experience. Enjoyment of non-sport exercise became a thing for me when the drive for explicit outcomes (look, weight, PRs) dissolved. I began to enjoy the literal experience of being embodied and in motion. Like the pleasant vibe from a stroll but multiplied.

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timbeiko.eth pfp

I think I’m a counter example here 😄 probably 50-60% of my headspace is spread across future branches, and 20-30% in a narrative past that concludes in the present moment (10-20%). A non trivial part of what I get out of it is forcing my mind to the present moment and out of the narratives!

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Ralph Old Dad pfp

Interesting, i’ve been consistent at the gym 3x week for almost three years and have liked it a lot after the first year or so it took my body to get used to it. I enjoy both the workouts and getting stronger/fitter. I would have acclimated to it quicker when i was younger but when i was younger i didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I think i mostly fit what you’re saying but i also think that’s changed from when I was younger. I think post mid life crisis/growing old gracefully is partially letting go of the almost endless number of narratives and stories that have accumulated with age and acceptance of current state as a righteous reality.

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Greg Robinson pfp

This is so well put. When I moved to Snoqualmie, I ran every day for 500+ days. Not sure what derailed that. But this narrative thing feels like a good narrative.

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Anuraj R pfp

you need to hire a personal fitness trainer, hehe

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Rembrandt pfp

Interesting. How can you tell if you have a narrative mindset, and how might you understand the perceived world of someone who is different? I am guessing this is not either/or distinction, but more of a spectrum?

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Class Captain pfp

I want to oppose this notion so bad but I keep arriving at a similar conclusion with the author :) . This is definitely a long form post . Please write more on this @vgr

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