Sometimes we turn up to training and see the WOD on the board and the little voice in our head starts talking to us ….. “oh no it’s ….”, “I’m really bad at this”, “I can’t do that many”, “I’m not feeling good”, “I’m not ready for this”, “I’m really sore”, etc, etc. Do these things actually do us any good? Do they make us challenge ourselves? Do they help us be the best we can be? The answer is a pretty resounding NO. So what do we do about it?
There a couple of parts to the answer. Firstly, let’s clarify the problem. The doubts and negative statements listed above cause a decrease in motivation which manifests as a reduced attack on the work-out (compare how you attack a WOD you love, to the fearful one in front of you!). Motivation is strengthened by keeping your focus on your goals. Therefore, your first step is to immediately go to your goals.
So what are they? Do you have any? If you REALLY want those goals, you will have to admit that this feared WOD is certainly going to help you get there. But we can do better than just that. Over and above the specific goals that we set, is a ‘meaning’. What are we doing it for in the first place? It’s not just for the scores. Each of us needs to find our own meaning, our own ‘mission’ to go on. For me it is to be the best I can be. To live up to the community that Matt and Danny are bringing us into. To be included in the cheers that go around the warehouse as someone tries to punch out one more rep. To do this I have to be honest with my effort, and not be afraid of what people think of me.
Dealing with fear is the second part of the answer. You need to clarify what it is that you are afraid of – Scared of the pain? Scared of someone beating you? Scared of not getting a respectable score? Scared of not finishing? – whatever it is, lets have a good look at it and straighten it out! Because the only real failure you will have is ‘backing off’. All of these doubts come from a warped definition of failure. You just need to answer the question “Was that the best I could do?” and if the answer is “yes”, then it doesn’t matter what your score was or where you came. Put your ego on the shelf, and trust that you are getting better. Taking care of the process will take care of the scores. The process is simple – do the best that you can in every given moment – when you are weak, let your coaches and fellow CrossFitters push you through – Don’t hide from them! And if you collapse on the floor, they will be really proud of you, because you gave it everything you had. Now … is that so bad?
- Wendy Swift, Sport Psychologist
