“Be humble or be humbled” — have you ever considered the meaning of this phrase as applied to your CrossFit journey? While humbleness can be applicable to many aspects of life, it is particularly relevant to CrossFit.
Humility at CrossFit Gardendale is having an openness to learning, growing, and challenging your body. It is having a confidence in yourself and your abilities, without allowing your ego to interfere.
Picture this: two people join CFG at the same time, but have two different mentalities. The first individual has humility. He does not have many expectations, but is excited to learn and grow stronger. The second individual does not share the same humility, as he believes he already knows everything he needs to know to succeed.
Which individual do you think ends up being more successful in CrossFit? If you think it is the first individual, chances are, you are right. An individual like this is setting themselves up for success, by seeking guidance and growth. On the other hand, the second individual will likely end up eventually experiencing the second part of the phrase mentioned earlier — he will “be humbled.”
Even the most humble of individuals may discover that they are humbled in the box. The determination and mindset required to complete each WOD can be tough. When you get out there and try to hit that PR you have been going for or try a new exercise for the first time, it can be extremely humbling.
Being humble is good and being humbled is not a bad thing either. The most important thing is to learn from the experiences where we are humbled and use these to fuel our success in the future.
While it may seem that confidence can help you succeed in your fitness journey, it is important to find a balance between your confidence and your ego. Go into each move with confidence in your body and your experience, but also know that you have room to grow and accept the coaching or guidance that you are presented with. Each time you tackle your WOD, look for ways in which you can improve. Though you may be better than you were yesterday, there is always room for growth. Accepting this growth-mindset and applying it to your CrossFit journey is one of the best ways to continually improve and better yourself.
The next time you need motivation to find humility before showing up for your WOD, use these quotes to inspire your day and your workout:
1. “I believe the first test of a truly great man is humility.” – John Ruskin
2. “Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.” – John Madden
3. “The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
4. “Rock bottom has built more heroes than privilege.” – Anonymous
5. “Climb the mountain so you can see the world. Not so the world can see you.” – David McCollough
6. “A person can achieve anything by being simple and humble.” – Rig Veda
7. “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.” – Dwayne Johnson