New Value?
Something we all seem to be addicted to is the news. Let us remember that the word “news” stems from the word “new”. Proto indo European “newos”.
Why new?
Something I am addicted to and endlessly fascinated with is innovation. That is, creating new. New things, new innovations, new approaches, etc.
I have this funny habit of scrolling through a random amount of websites on the near daily level, which includes the tesla.com website, apple.com website, the yeezysupply.com website, etc. 99% of the time I am disappointed, because frequently there is nothing new. With the exception of the easy supply.com website, where Kanye is always releasing a new sneaker.
Even a critique with Kanye West and Yeezy; when the Yeezy sneakers first came out, they were insanely different and innovative. However it seems as of late, the new trend is simply releasing slightly different color ways, perhaps to appease the crowd. I think as a result, Yeezy has lost her dominance, eclipsed by the “Air Jordan” brand. For example, now if you visit the stockx.com website, you don’t even see Yeezy as listed as one of the top brands.
How to make new?
Some practical thoughts include attempting and experimenting with new techniques and approaches. For example, something very innovative I think I have been doing is experimenting and innovating new ways of lifting weights at the gym. This includes a new philosophy technique and approach of increasing the weight, reducing the range of motion. Contrary to popular belief, I have still been making monster gains, both in terms of muscle, and overall vigor. For example my 6 plate rack pull.
For example, there is this bias in weight lifting that in order to do a “proper“ deadlift, you must lift the weight directly off the floor. And for some reason, to lift the weight higher off the floor is seen as “cheating“, or “improper“.
Also, form. A lot of unindependent thinkers think that they must do a deadlift with a “conventional“ form. Yet this is foolish, as doing a sumo stance increases your leverage, thus allowing you to lift more.
On going to a different or new country
One of my greatest gains of traveling to Phnom Penh Cambodia this summer was discovering the new trap bar and hex bar. Also, switching to lifting weights in kilograms, in which I am not intimidated by the numbers, as I have no concept of kilogram numbers.
For example, in my mind I know that five plates at the gym, five of the 45 pound red plates, around 500 pounds is heavy. However, if somebody tells me something is 250 kg, I have no idea if that is heavy or not.
Therefore, a huge pragmatic thought is that in order to innovate, or think new, or break out of traditional motive thinking, you must not live in your own country forever. You must travel, explore new places, and expose yourself to new thoughts.
For example, I believe that a lot of the early ancient Greek thinkers actually traveled to India, where they learned pseudo-Buddhist forms of thinking, also, to Egypt
