Mental Bifurcation

Bifurcation means the splitting of a main body into two parts - and guess what?  It's a mental thing in our little world of CrossFit.  However, as usual it not only applies to CrossFit.  Sure we would like to keep the same mental focus at all times.  But whenever we are faced with a task our mindset starts to wander . . .

It immediately becomes a decision of do the right thing or the wrong thing.  Do we perform at a sub-optimal level because something difficult is coming up, therefore we think that we must conserve our energy?  Do we try to game a workout because we know upfront that the weaknesses it exposes will cause us to have "bad numbers"?

Guess what?  The reality of working out is that it really isn't a life and death situation - sure people look at your numbers and impressive is impressive, but the fact of the matter is it should only matter the most to you - and whomever is instructing you.  

So the effort we put forth should be 100%.  Sure, that is cliche and we have heard it a thousand times from prior coaches, parents, etc, but it still applies in everything we do.  Why strive for anything less?  Sure we can't get our heads in the game, and outside factors outside of our control are affecting our mental state, but we have to do better than that - we have to finish the tasks we start.  Otherwise, we could be starting a avalanche effect that is disastrous.  

You thought it was just when you workout?  What about eating habits?  Now I am a proponent of both Paleo and Zone lifestyles (note the term lifestyle rather than diet - diet denotes a short period of time).

Now I am a huge fan of food have no doubt, but the gluttony that ensues at certain times of the year should/could be saved for certain times of the year, not everyday.  We are constantly reminded via mainstream media that obesity runs rampant in the United States, but hell - look at the choices that we have!!  Five Guys, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's and you can't forget Waffle House.  We always have a choice - and sometimes we take the good one and sometimes we take the bad one.  We aren't perfect, no one is, especially when the Girl Scout cookies are sitting on the counter.  But the majority of the time we take the good path.

This could be construed as a blog about morals and choosing the right path over the wrong path, the difficult path versus the easy path.  Sometimes it's ok to be wrong, but the point of this is that if we do happen to incorrectly choose regarding anything in our lives - we learn from it and grow as individuals.  If we learn and grow, that should be shared to those whom we care about.

- Coach Tony

“To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.”

- Irving Wallace