The Thing About Comfort

Are you too comfortable?  When was the last time that you were put in an unexpected situation or an unknown challenge was thrown at you?  Better yet, when was the last time you took a chance on yourself and actually followed through with something that you have been putting off for years?  When was the last time that you made a decision to go after your dreams and become the person that you know you were meant to be?   

Recently, I put myself in an extremely uncomfortable situation.  I left my job, that I loved and a community of people that I love and care for, to start my own business.  I am not kidding when I tell you that I'm extremely uncomfortable.  Leading up to my ultimate decision, I wasn't eating right or sleeping well and my workouts sucked horribly!  Even as I write this I'm filled with anxiety and I can neither confirm nor deny that I am freaking out just a little bit.  I ask myself things like; "what the f*ck did you just do?  Are you crazy?" or "you love those people, why did you leave?" or "this is going to be a lot of work, a lot of f*cking work!  Are you sure you're up for it?"

The answer is undoubtedly, yes.  Yes.  I am up for the challenge.  The truth is, I would rather be uncomfortable and work towards being exactly what I see in my dreams, than live a "comfortable" existence asking myself "what if" or imagining what life "could have been like" had I followed my dreams and my heart.  Here's the thing about comfort, it doesn't help you grow. 
  
A month or two ago someone that I know and respect were having a conversation about fitness and he said something to me that I haven't stopped thinking about since.  In gist, we didn't see eye to eye on an issue and he said "I hope you learn to get out of your comfort zone." 

Looking back, I really appreciate that comment because it helped me reevaluate my life (aside from fitness) and how I was living versus how I want to live.  I was living a life that was too comfortable, and I wasn't really doing anything to challenge myself to become a better version of me.  I was just existing.  Simply put, that is not living.

Just think about it for a second, where is the excitement in being comfortable?  Where is the growth in never watering your seed?  Why settle?  What if a caterpillar was okay and settled with just being a caterpillar?  If they settled, they would never find out that they were destined to be a beautiful butterfly.  That would be silly right?  That is what a lot of people do...they settle on being a caterpillar.  They stay in their present condition and live "comfortably" and later wonder why they are not living a joy filled life.

I'm not sorry when I say that I refuse to settle.  I want much more for myself.  You should want much more for yourself too.  

 

Now that I have you thinking about comfort zones...what is yours?  Is there a competition that you've always wanted to enter, but don't sign-up because know that you will have to work hard for it?  Do you really want to lose weight, but know that a lot of commitment will be necessary to reach your goal weight?  Do you really want to increase a particular lift by 20, 30,...heck 50 pounds, but can't wrap your head around the amount of consistency that is required to get there?  Outside of fitness, is there a life change that you have always thought about, but you quiver and get physically ill when you think about how uncomfortable it will be to make that change? 

Is there something that you want to do, but you're afraid to step outside of your comfort zone to achieve it?  My advice is this, think long and hard about the reasons why you want it (prayer helped me), and then ask yourself 2 simple questions.  1) What happens if I take a chance on myself and follow my dreams?  2)  Can I grow and learn in my current situation? 

Whatever your answers are to the questions above, I hope that you are able to learn to step outside of your comfort zone.  Don't just exist. Make sure you live a life of meaning. 

       

The Addiction of going RX'D

I have known for sometime the side effects of lifting heavy weights.  I guess you could compare me to a doctor as I am quick to recommend women go RX.  As a woman, it can be down right empowering and addictive.  I mean, let's be real, when you lift something that you couldn't before...you feel high...you feel like a bad ass! 

In CrossFit, we use the term RX (as prescribed) that indicates the intended weight that one should strive to lift during workouts.  Sometimes the weight is fairly heavy and, at first, many women cannot lift it.  As they progress they become stronger and stronger, but they will continue not attempt to use the RX weight out of either fear of failure, lack of confidence, or believing the silly myth that lifting weights will bulk you up. 

Recently, I suggested (clearing throat...insisted) that a couple of wonderful ladies RX the weight for the cleans in the girl benchmark WOD "Elizabeth."  One of them jumped right on it and was going to try RX weight even if it killed her.  The other was a little more hesitant, but after some gentle coaxing...she put 95 lb. on the bar. 

Did they succeed?  Yes.  Of course they did.  I never doubted that they would. 

Here is the really cool thing about it all.  Both of them came up to me separately and said "I feel like a bad ass!"  They also made mention of how elated they were and it was almost like a drug and that they wanted to feel that way again.

So I need to announce a warning to women who decide to try the weights RX'D.  You may experience even more confidence, self-esteem, and positive thinking.  You may have a sudden urge to smile, hold your shoulders back and head high.  These symptoms can become addictive and cause you to want to work harder to become stronger and stronger and stronger.  Common side effects of doing the weight RX'D is becoming a complete BAD ASS.  Be careful as these effects can become empowering and contagious to the women around you and they will want to RX too! 

Please speak with a certified coach and/or trainer if you feel you too would like to experience this feeling and become a bad ass as every single woman is qualified to do what they once thought was impossible.  Don't worry, there are enough weights to go around.  Quantities are unlimited.  Head to your local gym today and go lift something heavy!  You'll love the way you feel.  Trust me.

Get Your Hands Off Your Knees

I was probably 13 or 14 when I had a camp basketball coach yell at me, "Never let anyone know that tired.  Never!  Get your hands off your knees!"  At first I was embarrassed and angry because he was calling me out, but he was trying to make me tougher.  The truth is that my hands were on my knees and I was letting everyone know that I was tired.  Eventually I realized that resting wasn't helping my cause, and if I wanted to win I needed to stop thinking about how tired I was and get my hands off my knees.

20 years later his voice still whispers to me when I feel weak or tired.  When I'm in the middle of a hard workout and I want to stop or rest to take an extra breath or when I feel like putting off a work/school assignment until later I hear, "get your hands off your knees!"  When I am on a long run and want to stop or walk before I reach the finish line I hear, "Never let anyone know you're tired."

When life is making you tired remember what my coach told to me years ago, and apply it to your own life.  When you want to stop mid-workout to get a drink of water, don't.  When the barbell gets heavy, don't put your hands on your knees!  Take a deep breath and pick the damn thing back up, and show it who's in control.  When your job becomes overwhelming and you feel unappreciated, don't let them see you sweat.  Keep a cool head and keep doing your job. 

I'm finding that as I grow older, this statement resonates with me more and more.  It is so easy to find excuses to slow down or even quit when a situation becomes tiresome.  It's easy to complain about how exhausted I am or how difficult a particular task is to anybody that will listen.  In my opinion, complaining is equivalent to putting my hands on my knees and letting the world know that I'm tired.  I used to pride myself in the fact that no one knew I was tired on the basketball court, and I still try to uphold this principle in adult life whether it involves work, school, or the gym.  I challenge you to take my coaches advice and apply it to your life.  Who knows, it might help.

I Am MissFit: Challenge For Change- Day 8 "The Break Through"

Anyone who has been following The MissFit Movement blog knows that we are in the midst of the I Am MissFit: Challenge For Change.  Today marked day number 8, and I can honestly say that today was the first day that I felt I actually took a whole-hearted step in the right direction. 

I don't know what in the heck got into me but I woke up on time (I only hit the snooze button once), I made a to-do list (and followed it), I did all of my homework (nothing changed...I still hate statistics), I finalized the I Am MissFit Trademark application, and had time to relax.  I think I had a bit of a break through today!  Can I tell you that if my flexibility was better, I'd pat myself on the back...



Proof that I made a To-Do list (yes, I have the handwriting of a 2nd grader...deal with it.)

I think the key lays in keeping the right attitude and perspective.  Ultimately, the changes that I want are in my best interest and will do me nothing but good.  But in order to accomplish anything I have to keep a positive outlook and look forward to tasks rather than dreading chores.  In life, I feel that there are only two types of people; 1) people that do 2) people that don't.  The people that do are usually happy and live the life that they want, and the people that don't usually live a miserable existence, find excuses as to why they can't or really why they won't.  I don't know about anyone reading this, I can only speak for myself, but I want to live with joy and that will lead me to the life that I want. 

That leaves me with one option; I want to be a doer.

I know that each day is different and that I will be faced with the unknown and unknowable from time to time, but that isn't a reason to throw my hands up and surrender.  In most circumstances we are more than equipped to handle any situation, we just need to have the right attitude and faith that our actions will take us to our desired destination.  If we want to win, we have to find a way to win.

Who knows what day 9 will bring.  Here's to keeping a positive attitude!

Until next time, be well!

L. Brittney