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Mind F**ks
By Chip | September 30, 2009
I am the proud parent of a 5-year-old Doberman Pinscher named Cadence. Some of you have had the pleasure of meeting her. She is a sweetheart, she is too smart for her own good, and she really can make things interesting around the Moore household.
She hates all kinds of woodland creatures, including but not limited to: squirrels, chipmunks, ducks, geese, and even deer. Yes, especially deer. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to name an animal that she wouldn’t love to chase after at breakneck speeds to God-knows-where.
She doesn’t though, because I don’t let her. I tell her to “Stay.”
I’m very glad that she listens, but really, why should she? When we are out walking off-leash in the woods and some nasty critter presents itself, she could easily leave her two-footed owner in the dust to give chase. Usain Bolt couldn’t catch her when she was going at full tilt, never mind me. So why doesn’t she just go?
The truth is that my dog has forgotten just how capable she is. Early on during her training, she learned that if she didn’t listen, she would be scolded (“Bad Dog!”). Now, instead of taking off and risk Daddy yelling again, she will “Stay” even though she could sprint away and there would be little I could do about it.
She has been trained; she has been “Mind F**ked.”
Every one of us in our years on this Earth has been “trained”, so to speak. We all have preconceived beliefs and notions, rooted REALLY deeply within us, telling us what we can and can not do. In the gym, those things are easy to see. “I’ll never get a pull-up.” “I can’t learn this stupid push jerk!” “I hurt my shoulder back in college, so now I can’t lift anything heavy.” “I can’t keep up with her; I’m too old!”
Unfortunately, the people who utter phrases like these are usually right. Their own negativity puts a leash on their success. They CAN’T do those pull-ups, learn a complex lift, or pick up heavy stuff.
They can’t until their heads see that they are capable of much more… that is, until they Unf**k themselves.
It’s easier said than done. Many of us don’t even consciously realize that our Mind F**ks are holding us back. Too often, we let excuses get in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s easy to say “Her Fran time is 5 minutes faster because she’s ten years younger.” It’s a lot harder to recognize, and then more importantly change, the REAL reasons that she’s faster than you.
The older we get, the more miles that we put on our bodies. None of us are perfect, and sometimes, little issues (physical AND mental) get in the way of reaching the top of our game on any given day. Fear, fatigue, stress, laziness, lack of willpower…. we need to recognize the things that are holding us back, and do everything in our power to dominate them. Instead of being things that limit our effort and performance, push them to the front of your mind and use them as motivation to get better.
Not everyone of us is destined to be a CrossFit Games athlete. Every single one of us, however, can get better at what we do… running fast, lifting heavy… Going hard or going home. It is no longer enough to “Embrace the Suck”; we must now also “Embrace what you Suck At”. Whatever is holding you back, beat the crap out of it for the one hour a day that you’re in the gym with us. Eventually, the whooping you give will carry over into every aspect of your life.
So cast aside the leashes. Go chase those pesky little creatures… especially those damn deer. Leave your mental anchors behind and just go for it. Just don’t tell Cadence I say so…
Topics: Articles | 15 Comments »
September 30th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Well said Chip.
Training daily there are times that I feel like I am not going to be able to do some or all of the work out. After it is completed however, there never is a time where I feel like I wasn’t capable of doing or finishing better.
If we all could just remember that just finished feeling and not the indecision that comes before hand, we are capable of anything!
Those mental blocks are very real unfortunately and we really have to concentrate on breaking them. To change our behavior we have to first change the belief around it. If we can change the belief the behavior and the resulting change will follow.
Good stuff chip….Cadence will never know!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:25 am
AWESOME! I am such a believer in what the mind says the body will follow….and for many of us, myself included, it is a constant battle. BUT I know that it is just that….a thought. A thought that can make or break me….it;s MY choice and I am the ONLY one who can make it happen….or not.
Those who want to succeed will find a way,
those who do not will find an excuse.
BRAVO Chip!
September 30th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Well said Chip!! As Ben says to us all the time “Stop feeling sorry for your self and pick up the bar”. Now when I think of that when I am thinking that I need a rest I just pick up the bar and keep going. The mental part is huge.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Our minds can be our greatest strength or our grestest weakness. It is up to us which one it is. Mind F*ucking is not only a huge part of CF but life as well. Being someone who has been sitting around a lot and not been to the box in almost a month, I can say it is easy to give in and not try. I should be cleared to start CF soon and coming back from an injury is not gonna be easy. Like Chip said I know that I have to be ready to fail when I come back to CF. But in order to succeed you must fail first! The Mind F*ck is terrible thing but something that can be beaten. I know that I can depend on the family of CCF to help push me through those Mind F*cking moments like they always do. Just like in life you must overcome the Mind F*ck, Train not to suck at life! See you all soon
October 1st, 2009 at 12:31 am
[...] Check out Cynergy CrossFit’s write up on Mind F**ks, read it here. [...]
October 1st, 2009 at 7:24 am
[...] read: http://cynergytraining.com/cynergycrossfit/2009/09/30/mind-fks/ Share and [...]
October 1st, 2009 at 8:49 am
[...] out this link from a fellow CrossFit Affiliate. HERE Posted by J.Scars on 1st October 2009 under WODS Tags: intervals, [...]
October 1st, 2009 at 11:06 am
Great stuff Chip – so f**king true! However, my mind is still winning… very tough to unlearn this crap!
October 1st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Great advice for all of us in Crossfit, Chip! Cynthia is right about the body following the will of the mind. Along those lines, there is a great testimony in the Journal by Greg Amundson: (WFS) http://journal.crossfit.com/2009/09/the-chink-in-my-armor.tpl#featureArticleTitle
He saw himself doing the doubleunders perfectly!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
CHIP! Awesome! Man it is such an amazing journey and crossfit allows us such a great playground to highlight the mind. I find some days my mind is my friend and other well not so much…
Even each lift…each momment varies but when I can sink into the moment and tell myself “yes, you CAN do this or YES, YOU are strong” then that friggen barbell WILL go up!
Great blog…Keep it up coach you are an inspiration!
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
[...] found via the CrossFit affiliate blog by Chip M. of Cynergy CrossFit (MA) He wants to talk about Mind****s: <— Clicky Clicky! Please read, it’s good [...]
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Great post! Linking this up on the CrossFit NYC blog tonight.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 am
[...] A great article on what we say in our heads and how it impacts us:Mind F**k [...]
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Great article. I posted a referral to it on my site.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:17 am
[...] Rowing fast, Bruce Kocher (video) Mind F***ks [...]