The “R” word(s)…

We talk a lot about resiliency… trying to figure out how to create it, nurture it and believe in it.  It's very different for each of us, and we each have our own interpretation of what resiliency is to us… what it means, and so on.

I would like to throw you a different "R" word…

Responsibility

This time of year always brings around a lot of different kinds of emotions.  It's winter, so it's typically cold and possibly snowy or icy… the days are shorter… less time in the sun or outdoors… those things can wear on you a bit and kind of dictate our moods and feelings.

In addition to that, it is now the season of the CF Open.  Five tests are looming in the distance… overhead squats, snatch variations, pull-ups, double unders and muscle-ups are immanent!  Saturdays will be Open WOD days, and yadda yadda… we have been doing this for the past 4 years, so most of you are probably used to the drill!  But where does this new "R" word fit in to all of this??

It's simple…

Nobody is responsible for you, except for you!  Your emotions, your actions, your reactions… they are all yours!  You own them… they are your responsibility!

You can't change winter into summer…

You can't make the sun stay out longer during the winter months…

But you can take responsibility for your attitude and approach to dealing with the winter blues!  It's your choice!

Here is the cool part…

You CAN change your ability to do double unders, and all of the other stuff looming in this year's Open (and in about every weekly training session you will ever attend at the shed!!).

You HAVE THE CHOICE to participate or NOT!

You HAVE THE CHOICE to learn, practice and progress… or NOT!

And, if you think you are a master of all of the skills required in The Open and in everyday training… well great!  Those are your thoughts and emotions… and only you can be responsible for them!  A great example of a guy who was a master at his craft, but took the responsibility to work at his craft was Jerry Rice… arguably the best wide receiver to every play football.  He took responsibility for being the best, and his body of work is proof of that!!

Responsibility is like a WOD… sometimes it's really freakin' hard… and other times it flows… but just like any training scenario, there is only one person who can claim responsibility for your efforts and results… YOU!

Responsible leadership in fitness, teaching resiliency, life coaching… these are all part of the process of achieving wellness in Mind, Body and Spirit.  The super fun shit is sprinkling in all the cool stuff like aerobic repeats, sprint repeats, mixed modal training, MAP sessions and training alongside our friends and loved ones!

It's uncomfortable to look with an introspective lens, and I totally get it!  But once you can take responsibility for you, and stop making excuses, blaming and complaining; things just all fall into place!

 

As an athlete and coach, I seek out this stuff in efforts to be the best… or at least better than yesterday.  I can tell you that over the past year, I have studied a ton, read a lot of books and practiced training my mind as well as my body.  To me, happiness is like the flowing water in a brook or river… it flows all around you.  You can't grasp water… you cannot clench your fists and grab it.  You must keep your hands cupped and open in order to let it flow into you.

Keep your mind open, let it flow, take responsibility for being awesome!

 

yours in fitness,

~cpj