Break free from this limiting belief.
Have you ever thought to yourself “I would like to do that, but I’m not fit enough”? This is the most frustrating thing I can hear anyone say. For me what you’re really saying is;
“I’m unwilling to move out of my comfort zone”
or to look at it in a more positive way;
“I’m underestimating my true potential”.
If you think you aren’t fit enough then you never will be, and let’s face it, you’ll never know if you’re fit enough to do something unless you do it!
I want to show you how you can achieve much, much more if you have the right mindset, and that this is a mental hurdle to overcome, not a physical one.
I first began to challenge this negative mindset in my late twenties when a good friend of mine asked me to take part in the Great North Run. I’d never even considered running that far before and I had no idea whether I would be able to do it or not. I thought;
“Why would I want to do that?”
“I’m not fit enough.”
“I’m not built for running.”
Thankfully my friend was quite persuasive and low and behold I ended up on the start line. At one point during the run, about 8 miles in, I was overtaken by a gorilla in a wheelchair – I caught him up on the next hill though so who had the last laugh? By the end my hips hurt, my knees ached, my feet were in tatters and I had a blister on my little toe that was bigger than the toe itself. I could hardly walk but inside I had a warm glow of accomplishment. I swore I would never do it again and then promptly signed up for next years run a few months later and from then on, I was hooked.
The physical pain soon subsided to the emotional feeling that I had just done what I had previously thought was impossible.
Since then I’ve taken part in 4 great north runs, 3 tough mudders, the Yorkshire 3 peaks and completed in the 2018 crossfit open. Each one began with a decent amount of nerves and self-doubt. So, for me at least, the uncertainty and self-doubt never really leaves, but over the years that negative voice in my head doesn’t play as loud and I tend to ignore it.
I’m now 40 years old and by no means the fittest person in the world but I have recently taken up Crossfit. Say what you like about Crossfit but I can tell you it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in terms of physical exertion.
At the time of deciding to give this a go I was at a point where I knew that I was physically capable of at least giving it a try, but walking into that gym brought a different mental challenge.
I’m not particularly great in new social situations, it takes me time to feel comfortable and part of my anxiety comes from just walking into places where there are a lot of people that I don’t know.
“Would I be accepted?”
“Would I look stupid?”
“Am I too old to be doing this?”
For the first few weeks I really had to take a deep breath before walking into the gym and hope I could manage a coherent exchange of words with someone.
I’ve gone from that to the point where Crossfit is now one of the biggest pillars in my mental and physical wellbeing and I have made some good friends through being there.
I’m not going to harp on about the benefits of Crossfit – but what I do want to say is that it teaches you a lot about what you think you can and cannot do.
Some of the workouts come with the ominous title of “Character Buidling”. These sessions are very tough and are a real test of your mental and physical endurance. They teach you that when things hurt like hell, if you just keep moving you will come out of the other end a stronger person. They also teach you that your body is more capable than you think and often the first thing to give in is the mind.
The greater the risk the greater the reward.
I’m talking about perceived risk here… Someone who takes things in their stride probably won’t get as much out of a specific challenge as someone who thinks they have no chance of succeeding. So, if you are one of the latter, then that is precisely why you should do it! The potential reward is not worth passing by.
Shine a light on your fear. Face it. Stare it down. The worst is never as bad as you think.
Yes, it will be hard, yes, it will take you some time to get up to speed, but so what?
When it comes down to it all you really need to do is get yourself over the start line.
If you put yourself in a position where you either sink or swim – you will be amazed at what you can achieve.
Drop the I’m not fit enough mentality and just give it a try, also don’t be disheartened if you’re not amazing at something from the word go. Any physical activity takes a certain amount of practice to get good at, whether it’s a physical skill or something that just requires out and out fitness… it takes time to build that particular ability.
CONCLUSION
When you say to yourself “I don’t think I’m fit enough to do that”.
For me there are 2 reasons for this:
- I don’t really want to do it.
- I really don’t think I’m fit enough.
If the reason is you don’t want to do it then fine.
I’m talking to the people to who think they are not fit enough, and if that is you then that should be the exact reason you should do it.
The only way you will be fit enough to do something is if you commit and push yourself.
It’s ok to be scared but pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is the quickest path to success.
What’s the worst outcome? – You have to stop and catch your breath
What’s the best outcome? – You complete it and you’ve just proved to yourself against all odds that you can do it!
The hardest part isn’t the action itself, the hardest part is getting to the start line. The fear of failure can be crippling but fear is a choice.
Don’t give yourself an option.
Don’t give yourself an opportunity to pull out.
Haul yourself to the start line and just go!
Accept the challenge and begin the greatest journey of your life.
