How is Your Discipline?

Discipline. 


What does that mean to you? When you decide to do something- wether it is taking on an 8 week challenge, a 30 day food challenge, or even training for the Fittest Games or Crossfit Games- how do you discipline yourself to get mentally tough? 


I thought a lot about this yesterday as we were doing Elizabeth in the Women's Only class. Carey Kepler gave me some good advice recently. I asked how I should train for the upcoming Fittest Games. She said "You need to have a goal for each WOD. You need to think about how you are going to approach it each and every time." 


It's so easy to just show up and work out. Sure, you get a good workout and feel good afterwards, but once you have decided something (like "I am going to do RX weight no matter what"), how does your mind change once you hear "3-2-1-go"?


Once again, Lisbeth Darsh has something to say about this. Read on...

I don’t touch the barbell with my foot. I don’t walk over it. And I don’t drop it unloaded. Ever. I place it down.

People think I’m a little OCD about the barbell. Maybe I am. Last night’s class kept dropping the barbell — clanging it to the ground — during “Jackie” and I almost became unglued.

Yup, it’s just a barbell. A piece of metal. It, technically, has no soul. It’s not flesh and blood and therefore it really is not that important in this life. I know that.

But I also know that our behaviors are representative of how we treat the world, how we approach the world, how we embrace the world. If I want to succeed in this life, then I have to have a successful mindset. I have to embrace attention to detail and focus on every aspect of my actions. Only I can control my actions. Only I can control me. No one else can. So, if I drop the unloaded barbell on the ground, what am I saying with my actions? Am I neglecting attention to detail? Am I disrespecting the tool I am using to chase success? Would I drop my Mac? Or throw down my pen? Bump my truck into a light pole? Be careless with my money?

Whatever field you work in, success lies in wait for those who pay attention to detail, respect their craft, and work really, flippin’ damn hard. The gym is no different. Drop an unloaded barbell, toss a kettlebell down, throw a dumbbell to the ground: You’ve just told me where you’re going in this workout and this life.

Respect your work in all aspects. Stop being sloppy. Pay attention to details and really focus on discipline. And prepare for more success than you ever dreamed of . . .

-courtesy of Crossfit Lisbeth