MINDSET MONDAY: Form-Consistency-Intensity

In CrossFit we teach a basic hierarchy of importance in our exercise, especially when starting out, formàconsistencyàintensity. Meaning our first priority is in developing proper movement patterns that will yield safety and efficiency. Second, showing up on a regular basis practicing these skills over and over again. And third, only at this point adding intensity, such as upping the weight used, racing our neighbor, or trying more advanced skills. I recently saw a post online relating this concept to life that I found particularly eye-opening.

It’s no secret to any that have read this blog that I am on a quest to overcome the mental deficits I feel hold me back as an athlete and in other parts of my life. After recently completing the Open, these concerns were especially difficult. I couldn’t help but feel discouraged and hopeless by this situation. I was more focused than ever on overcoming these issues and they seemed overwhelmingly hindering the majority of the competition. As I mentioned previously, this gave me a sincere doubt regarding my ability to develop the champion mindset I recognize is important in sport and really in any endeavor in life.

Special thanks to my coach for snapping some photos of
me training this week!

Relating this back to the concept above, I think in a way I must take a step back and view myself as a beginner; just starting out on this mental quest. It is only in the last couple years that changes have occurred in my life that have made me feel I can truly pursue what I want. This is such a short time considering the course and direction of the entire span of my time here. As such, just as a beginner athlete is learning a specific weightlifting movement for the first time, I am only just learning how to think like a champion.

I often explain to beginners that Olympians spend very long careers mastering the lifts they are learning, and as such not to get discouraged if they aren’t perfect on their first day. However, I certainly have expected this of myself when relating to perfectly developing and executing the mental skills I recognize to be necessary in sport. I have realized this is an unreasonable demand.

It would be unfair to conclude I could implement an entire new way of thinking during an intense competition, when I am still just learning what that entails. Let alone, having minimal time to practice, or be able to properly correct my thoughts when they revert back to my way of reasoning through things for the last 25 years. This would be akin to teaching an athlete the snatch (an Olympic weightlifting movement) once or twice, and then making them enter a weightlifting competition where they must execute perfectly in front of a crowd and three judges.

I would never suggest this. Rather I would talk to them about the importance of developing proper form and consistently practicing it, and then at that point thinking about how much weight is on their bar or entering a competitive environment to compare in such a lift.

As such, my current focus as it relates to the mental game is on form. It’s on learning how I should be thinking and practicing these concepts. There is no need to beat myself up about not mastering something my first few months focusing on this. I would never expect this of someone I am coaching. While I have made great progress to even get to this point where I can focus on something as advanced as developing mentally as an athlete, I am still a beginner as it comes to execution in this domain.

So, these next few weeks as a new year begins (as far as the CrossFit timeframe is concerned) I can take a step back and slow things down. I can stop focusing on intensity before I have worked on form and consistency. I can try my best each day as I learn more, and not get discouraged if I fall back into an old way of thinking, or need help to overcome it. I am a new athlete in this regard, and it is normal to have not mastered something so difficult when starting out.

One thing I have been doing to learn more about the mental game has been reading a book recommended to me by Noelia, “How Champions Think” by Bob Rotella. As I have started working my way through it, I have discovered significant insights that I have found extremely helpful in even learning how I should think, compared to how I do. I think one of the best ways to actually learn a new skill (especially in my case where I have been thinking one way for so long) is to teach it and describe it in my own words.

As such, I have decided each week, starting the week following this post, I will do Mindset Monday. I will go through one chapter of this book, pick my favorite quote or excerpt, and relate it to CrossFit and myself in an effort to learn the form necessary for becoming the best athlete I can be. Hopefully, the insights found here will be helpful to others as well.

The difficult feelings of the Open are still fresh in my mind and heart. This heaviness has made it hard to yet see the positive things I will learn from this experience that will propel me towards my future goals. However, with time clarity will come. Especially with time spent developing a mindset where I am not working against myself, but rather in harmony with my passion and spirit. I think these weekly posts are one skill I can implement to work on my form, so next Open I am ready to execute with the intensity necessary for a more positive experience and to reach my goals.