Interesting thought process today. As I walked out of a store today with a “quality protein drink” designed to aid an help muscle recovery, I started to wonder if all protein sources are created equal? You find protein meal replacement bars really cheap and others really expensive. Is it all branding? When you breakdown something to its core molecule does it matter where it came from? Whey proteins for example – does it really matter where exactly it came from? You have Whey, Casein, Soy, Egg, etc. Doing a little research, there is a difference on the major source. In rat testing, rates get bigger faster on Egg protein. Then you have to look beyond just growth, how efficient is the human body at processing it? Well, studies indicate whey is processed more efficiently by humans. Then you have the ability to break it down after it is processed. Do we have a ready supply of the correct Amino Acids to break down the protein? As it turns out, Egg is slightly better in this category. Definitely Soy, Whey, Egg and Casein are all better in these categories. Other sources such as vegetables, legumes, whole wheat, are all protein sources but the human body does not process as good as the others.
Then we have to consider the quality of the source. Lets pick whey protein. Does it matter from what milk source they whey protein molecules are derived? Well certainly when it comes to additive nutrients. You could not survive just eating whey protein powder all day. You need other things, but assuming that you get all that, does it matter what cow it comes from, or a goat for that matter? I have discovered the answer is probably no. That is if the protein is pure. So if I broke it down from where I got it and I ended up with just raw, pure, whey protein – the source does not matter. However, it is the processing that matters. A factory that does the break down is going to have machinery, packaging, preservatives, bugs, who knows what is going on. That is where you get other ingredients. Some of these can be bad. Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, BPA, Pesticides, Good ol fashioned rat feces.
So yes, the quality of the source is really important.
That brings up the real point of this blog. I was thinking about sources because that is what the Arrowhead water bottle company wanted me to do on an advertisement – “consider the source.” So I was looking for inspiration to write this blog, and I thought about that phrase consider the source. That got me to thinking, from what sources do I pull for inspiration? How is the quality? I know some of you will instantly go to religious context. Ok, fine. Go there. Is your religion, or better, your application of your religion providing you with a quality source of inspiration? Some of you will think – Guy, you do not get it. I am not supposed to demand that my God or my religion provide me inspiration, I need to be humble, I need to accept suffering. How very Catholic/Buddhist of you (funny how both world religions get to the same place through different means, huh?). Anyway, religion or no religion, I think it is important to consider the source of inspiration – because we all need it. If you feel uninspired for a long period of time, then eventually you will breakdown. Even the most dedicated disciple will fall apart if inspiration never comes, or the quality is poor.
If you are not feeling inspired, then 1 of 2 things are not going correct. 1. Your inspiration source sucks. 2. Your are not actually using your inspiration source, and lying to yourself. I have discovered, number 2 is the most likely. Albeit there are some zombies wandering among us that find their inspiration from really bad sources (drugs perhaps, alcohol perhaps, the back of cereal boxes, the NY Times). We all look for inspiration, finding it enough to keep going or slip into despair. When we find a source we tend to stick to it. I read a very interesting study on religious behaviour. It was interesting that the researchers spent time reviewing with the religions adherents their belief system. Come to find out many of them knew that there were challenges to their belief system, but that they had come to grips and accept them because the benefits outweighed any concerns that they might have to brush under the rug now and then. As it turns out, religious people are not actually zealots, they are very pragmatic. Sorry Atheists out there, religious people are not crazy fanatics, research indicates that they are for the most part pragmatic and are simply doing what all humans do, clinging to a quality source of inspiration.
This blog is not intended, or never will be targeted at proving or disproving the concept of faith in religious belief systems – what I bring this up for is to consider the source of inspiration we have to choose from and how incredibly important it is. To borrow a religious concept, it is the wellspring of life, the living water so to speak. You have to have it. If a religion has survived for a long time, then it has most likely proven to be a great source of inspiration, otherwise it would not last. Mozart has stood the test of time, because it is continuously inspiring. Do not believe? Spend the day with Mozart on in the background and prove me wrong. Sometimes I just have to get the Led out, because that was a source I drew from in high school, and occasionally still do. There are days when I just have to listen to whatever song, read whatever text, watch whatever clip that captures that passion play that I am immersed.
I challenge you to think for a minute – are you a victim to #2 – You are not actually using your inspiration source and lying to yourself? Do you follow a religion, believe in a certain way of life, adhere to a philosophy, belong to the Golden State Warriors Fan Club, hold a season pass at Disney land and just not use it? Do you own a collection of baroque classical songs and do not hear? Do you have a family that loves you and you ignore them? For the love of God (or whatever you call God) please use the sources of inspiration that you have! You need it! Desperately! If you were complaining just a minute ago about your miserable current self, or whining about your past self – check back in with your inspiration source and get back to being excited about your future self!
Guy Reams
