Our bodies are incredibly complex machines that we often take for granted. It helps us think, digest food, and breathe (which you are now doing manually). Whether we know it or not, our bodies also make good teachers.
I’m not just talking about knowing when we’re sick, hungry, or tired. I am talking about a certain metabolic process that occurs within our bodies.
Quick Bio Lesson (You won’t be tested on this!)
Anabolism is the process by which simple substances are synthesized into the complex materials of living tissue. For the body to repair itself after a workout, it needs protein and carbs. These carb and protein sources help repair what’s been damaged in the muscles.
Catabolism is the opposite; complex materials are broken down into simple substances. This is what happens when you digest food. Your body takes what it needs from what you ate and uses that as energy. Large bits of food are processed into smaller simple bits.
Both work in tandem in order to insure the body functions properly.
While the full metabolic process can prove to be complicated, all we need to know is this: catabolism breaks and anabolism builds.
Here, I’d like to emphasize the process of anabolism.
In order to produce muscle mass, the muscle needs to be under stress. During the recovery period, the muscle grows even stronger than before through an anabolic process called hypertrophy. This allows that muscle to lift more and sustain more over time.
This process can be seen as a metaphor for success in three key ways:
Fuel in the Tank: Efficient Use of Resources
The human body in all of its complexity will make do with what it has during an anabolic process. What you put into the tank will be put to good use, and the body’s tank is only as good as the fuel it has.
In the same way, successful people allocate their time and resources to what is really important. For example, when I was in college, if there was a big paper due, I’d do what I could to make sure that paper was the king of quality.
This meant finding quality sources (both physical and digital), writing tutoring, and multiple vocal read-throughs of this essay. I would even print out physical hard copies so that I could mark them by hand with a pen than behind a screen.
Needless to say, the library became my sanctuary.
In the same way the body uses every resource it’s provided with, I used every resource the school provided me with.
It was the efficient use of resources that landed me a satisfactory grade every time.
Up the Stair Master: Incremental Growth
One day of weightlifting will not make you a bodybuilder in the same way one blog post will not make you a successful writer.
The anabolic process occurs incrementally; so does success.
Many success stories start with small changes. In the case of Admiral William H. McRaven in his book Make Your Bed, “If you want to change your life and the world – start off by making your bed!” (9). That one small task, believe it or not, does a few things:
- It starts your day off right
- It disciplines you to do it again
- It encourages you to do the next task on the list.
A good college student puts down the controller and spends more time studying.
A good writer spends 15 minutes a day writing to craft a novel.
The rich man saves a small portion of what he makes.
Success hardly happens overnight; it happens one step at a time.
Like a Chameleon: The Ability to Adapt
Chameleons don’t change color to camouflage; they change colors to adapt to the environment (maintain body temperature, communication, mood, etc). It’s what keeps it alive in the elements.
The anabolic process also involves adaptation.
The reason your muscles grow is to adapt to the weight it’s lifting. It is setting itself up for the next time it needs to perform a 225-pound bench press.
This is the mindset that successful people adopt to succeed.
In a world of changing circumstances, they are able to adapt.
Now here’s the cool thing about the body failing to lift that weight:
Even when the muscles fail to lift more weight, they are winning.
I know I said I wouldn’t quiz you, but remember hypertrophy? That damage to the muscle also builds up and becomes stronger during recovery!
The same goes for human failure. When you fail, you are winning.
Let me say that again.
When you fail, you are winning.
You are learning. You are learning to adapt. You found out what works You found out what doesn’t work. You found out you need to work more.
In the words of Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Remember that not all failure is a loss; a loss is choosing to stay down.
Here’s Your Exam Question:
If your body is trying to do what it has to do automatically, then why can’t you do what you ought to do and want to do with some extra effort?
Use what you have one day at a time, and change it up when it doesn’t work out!
The Anabolic Surge 
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