Sheldon’s Corner: Is your motivation helping or hurting you? (Ego v. Reason)
Motivation is one of the first steps in doing well in CrossFit. Everyone knows they’re supposed to have it, but very few actually understand what it truly means and how it truly works. As athletes we come face-to-face with motivation every single day. Motivation permeates our CrossFit box environments because through our social interactions we are either trying to motivate others or others are trying to motivate us to accomplish goals. Ask any coach and they’ll tell you that effectively motivating people is no easy task. Ask a really good coach and they’ll tell you it’s the most demanding, yet rewarding task there is.
Sometimes we find ourselves so self-driven in reaching our goals, that when we fall short, we often beat ourselves up. Sometimes we have to step back and ask ourselves the simple question of…why we didn’t reach our goal? That may seem all to basic, but simply thinking about the notion will allow you to think beyond the hurtles you tripped on and more so on how to leap past them in your next attempt. For instance, was your goal not reached because your diet was bad…were you absent in the gym several times this month…are you not getting enough sleep…have you worked out too much and not recovering…have you set an unrealistic goal. All of these questions are just some of the things you must consider when understanding why your goals were not met, even though motivation was driving you.
It is great to be motivated, but motivation without discipline is merely just a feeling. When you have discipline, you then can execute with direct purpose and direction. All to often we get motivated and excited about accomplishing a task, but when the going gets tough…it’s so easy to fall in despair and think that it was all useless. However, this is the moment where you must think back about the great feeling of motivation you had at the start and what drove you to want this goal in the first place. Remember what brought you here and why you are here. Find the purpose and the direction you once had when you started. Become the greater you that was once imaged…for not only is it possible, but it is inevitable.
When you are motivated, you often have to listen to reason and ignore your ego. Never let your emotions dictate what you are physically capable of. For example, have you ever seen someone in your class, who is at the same fitness level as you, do something awesome, (like a muscle-up) and it completely motivates you to do it as well? However, when you attempt to try it, you completely fail and don’t even come close. Your first thought is, how can they manage to pull it off and I can’t when we’re at the same fitness level? You start to wonder if maybe you’re not training hard enough, or maybe you’re not good enough to be in the class. This is where you have to stop yourself and don’t let ego get in the way of reason. There are many factors why your fellow athlete could have completed the movement and you could not. They could have been training for this goal for a long time and they finally did it…they could be receiving additional coaching…they could be watching videos on the movement…they could have gotten stronger…or they could just be a natural. Either way, all reasons have nothing to do with you and your progress. Find motivation in their success and use it to drive purpose and direction into achieving your next goal. You never know, you many just indirectly do the same thing for someone else who becomes motivated by you.
In conclusion…motivation is a powerful emotion, and when used correctly, it can translate to incredible achievements. However, don’t let your ego cloud you from the reality of a goal. Make each goal realistic and find purpose, direction, and discipline in what you do. Get rid of excuses and create a routine. Become a better you, and you will inadvertently create better others.