Accepting Failure

One of the best parts of CrossFit is that we accept failure. For me, there is no better feeling then watching somebody struggle with muscle ups, or double-unders, or a pullup. Why? Because I know how happy they’re going to be when they finally get one. I respect the person who comes into the gym and fails repeatedly, but also has the humility to keep trying. They have accepted the fact they can not doing something, and have taken action to change that.

 

This is one of many things that CrossFit teaches new members. They are generally afraid of failing, and insecure about the things they can’t do. The CrossFit community accepts failure, and we respect a new member who is working their butt off learning a new skill, not the arrogant *** dismissing a movement because they can’t do it, or are  not good at it yet. For some people this concept of accepting failure takes time to learn, I understand it’s not easy failing at something over and over again in front of your peers. We all like to ‘cherry pick’ movements and workouts and stick to the things we like and are good at.  But once you learn to accept failure, and face it head-on, the possibilities are endless, not only in CrossFit, but also in your everyday life.

 

What if you dedicated 15min a day to the things you weren’t good at? I’m not talking about fitness anymore, I’m talking about life. Maybe you are not a social person, take 15min to ‘practice’ being more social. What if you hate, cooking? Take 15min to read a cook book. Most people dismiss the idea of doing something they aren’t good by saying ‘I don’t like cooking.’ Well, you don’t like cooking because you aren’t good at it. If you practice it, and become better at it, you will like it. You usually hate the things you suck at, and like the things you’re good at. Nobody likes double-unders until they can do them. Then magically, they can’t wait for the next double under workout.

 

So whether it’s CrossFit, or life in general, don’t be afraid to fail.