Looking Up From The Bench

I haven't felt much like writing lately. Partially because I keep talking about how I need to work on my mental game and continue to struggle with it. This has caused me to feel a little blue as I try and figure out how to overcome those thoughts that are making training a bit rough. So I don't really feel like I have much new stuff to report. Just battling those mental deficits holding me back still! However, something came to mind today at work that I felt like sharing. My work is interesting. Most of the mental health appeals I write are specifically for teens in residential treatment with pretty significant mental health issues. Due to my struggles in this area I often get cases that remind me of my past. This can be tough as I'm generally much more interested in the present and future and don't like to think about the past too much.  Today for whatever reason my case got me thinking of my brother who passed away during the height of my mental health strugg...

I’ve talked a lot recently about trying to change my usual way of self-talk and thinking to be more productive in my training and actually enjoy it. I wish I could say I have been super successful with this but I honestly haven’t. I’m still struggling with not beating myself up or being so hard on myself that I make my favorite thing to do un-enjoyable at times. This is how I’ve felt lately when I show up to workout: I really want to find a way to conquer this negative self-talk. I know it is the piece of the puzzle missing from what it will take me to reach my goals. So, I have a new strategy I'm going to implement. One thing I do that makes me know even on my darkest days of training that I love CrossFit with everything I am is being able to have the opportunity to coach others. I’m generally extremely nervous in social situations, shy, and have a ton of trouble even inserting myself into a group conversation. I generally leave these experiences demoralized, wonderi...