Reminders

I am happy to say that I recently graduated my CrossFit OnRamp sessions and into group classes!

With that, I had a whole new set of mental challenges to overcome. I previously discussed how it was a huge mental obstacle (which I overcame!) to get into fitness in the first place, but this was a whole new ball game.

In CrossFit, there are different types of classes but they are not necessarily grouped by your level of fitness. In a typical class there are people of all levels working on the same WOD (Workout of the Day), scaled to whatever level is best for them.

Being fairly new, I was a little self-conscious that I was usually the only one using the smallest weights, finishing last on the rowers, or doing the most scaled down version of something.

But whenever I felt comfortable enough to express these concerns to another member, they always said the same thing! Either “we all started somewhere” or “you will get there!” – This is the wonderful community aspect that everyone talks about in CrossFit by the way… If you are last to finish, you can bet the rest of the class is standing there cheering you on!

While this warm community has helped me feel better about everything, I have also learned how to focus on my own WOD and that getting into that space in my mind where I am completely focused on what I am doing is sheer bliss. I could be sweating and barely able to breathe, but I am in the zone and I don’t want to stop. I can’t actually remember the last time I had that level of focus on anything! Except maybe writing…

As often happens with my close friends, I was having a deep and meaningful conversation about this mental aspect of living a healthy lifestyle with one of my bests, when she said something that really resonated with me:

“There is always going to be someone who you may perceive as better, stronger, faster, or whatever. It’s that getting out of your own head and realizing that everyone is only really focusing on themselves and your judgement of what they may be thinking is really yourself holding yourself back.”

I really couldn’t have said that better myself and I really needed that reminder, so I thought I would share it with you all too.

It especially helped after I took a nasty fall on pavement last week. "Old me" would have been completely defeated and saying things to myself like, “Great! You were already the slowest/weakest person there, and now you have a sprain to slow you down more!” but I didn’t! I knew I would be supported by my trainers and my community, so that helped, and I knew that I didn’t want to miss my WODs or get behind so I showed up and I did what I could. I have learned to focus on my own WODs as well as listen to my body.

This week I also finally read “You Are a Badass” (in under 24 hours I might add!) and it was not what I expected at all! Yet it was completely mind shifting and compelling. It’s about visualizing and manifesting that which you desire, be it your goals, fame, fortune, a soul mate, your dream job, a parking spot, or all of the above. Of course you have to work your ass off for it, but you also need to fully believe that you will get it, learn to listen to your instincts, and take your cues from the universe that are pointing you in the direction you are supposed to go.

Jen Sincero expands on the old “ask and ye shall receive” adage. She has found a way to appeal to any, all religions, and even the non-religious, by keeping her message non-denominational, and yet she makes you want to have faith in something greater than ourselves. I went so far as to go out and buy a journal to write down my manifestations.

After a week full of reminders that I needed, I was needed to give one to a dear friend as well.

Without context, I’d like to remind you of the same thing because it applies to every one:

You are enough! You should never have to raise or lower your standards of how emotionally available you are, or any aspect of aspect of who you are, to meet the expectation of someone else. If you don’t meet somebody else’s expectation of who you should be, then you are not the right person for them. You are who you are. And you are enough.