From time to time I like to geek out and comb the Internet for information. I don’t always know what I am looking for, but I am always up for a good short read. Personally I am a big fan of quotations and short motivational pieces. A while back I came across something that has just seemed to stick with me. It just seemed to hit home as I’ve always had a knack for either making things internally worse than they were, being too hard on myself, or simply focusing on the wrong details. I don’t doubt several of you have come across it before. The Serenity Prayer reads:
“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”
–Reinhold Niebuhr
In my opinion, things such as this are in the realm of abstract art and are up for personal interruptation. To go along with this I also found that this prayer was adopted in 1941 by Alcoholics Anonymous. I guess I just found it pretty sweet that this same small collection of words has been used by many to fight personal demons of all sizes.
So why am I writing about it here? Well…come on, most of you know I can take most anything and somehow twist it into a conversation about CrossFit.
Just consider it a PB&J of religion, personal examination, and the CrossFit journey…in the end it’s all good. Heck…we all know we leave the PB out because round two is about to go down during the next commercial.
The “FTS” translation:
“God”, this is your source of motivation.
What is that sensation deep within that drives you?
Why do you keep coming back to CrossFit?
Who do you want to be?
A better mom?
A better husband?
Co-Worker? Friend?
All around solid member of society?
Pffftt..maybe it’s merely social, a break from reality. Doesn’t matter, if you can identify a reason of motivation, a reason to get better, a desire…that’s it. That is your entity or noun that helps get you where you are going. Recognize it and give it credit, it’s important to you, and you are who matters.
“Serenity”, I think this one is the hardest.
How often do you focus on the wrong detail and let things distract you?
Should you really dwell?
It can be changed?
Accept it, again recognized it, and last but not least DO NOT IGNORE IT. Put me in a cardio intensive situation and I nearly buckle…”I suck”, ehh…suck it up! It’s only a weakness, it’s temporary and I need to relax, work hard and prove to myself I own that rower, not the other way around.
Is it your nutrition?
Lack of sleep?
Are we making excuses or are these things something I simply cannot change for whatever reason?
If so…accept it and move on. None of us are perfect, we just trying to become professional lifers using the tools of CrossFit.
“Courage”
It’s one thing to accept something you cannot change, but what if you can?
Are you?
Are you willing to look fear or a workout in the eye and give it a mental beat down before you even start?
KNUCKLE UP. I don’t think a new PR on Fran makes you a better person by itself. But I am a HUGE believer in the underlying willingness and determination. You ever picked a WOD, picked a goal to finish in, and then put in the time and gotten it? Good grief…that’s just fun, that just pushes my good buttons. Once you prove to yourself you can do that in the comfort of CrossFit…why not apply that same technique at work and get that promotion you wanted? Sure the execution is different, but the mentality isn’t. Maybe you want to finally ask that person out? Make a career change…try something new, I don’t know, but find something you want but won’t do. Then do it. Use CrossFit as a testing lab…then smash life. Even if you don’t PR, you know when you showed courage and went after it.
“Wisdom”, retaining knowledge for the better, often a result of failure.
What works?
What doesn’t?
Have you really found how hard you can push yourself?
Do you truly know your limits?
Am I just accepting things for what they look like or am I attempting to get better?
Am I reading blogs?
Am I commenting?
Am I picking the brains of the coaches or co-athletes?
Should I tweak my nutrition?
Am I the result of any of my own frustration?
Find the answers…become wise and use it to your advantage.
Any how… sometime think about this stuff. Attempt to let it soak in… “What would you do if you were at CrossFit?” There is no reason to leave it within the walls of the box. We all have people that believe in us…our names are on the board, they are laying beside you after a WOD. Let’s all find our “God, Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom” and continue to PR at the game of life in the box and out.
Get Fit, Love Life, and Enjoy Your Holidays,
MattyB
cfsiouxfalls.com 