Our lives are built on challenges. We’ve all hit those points where it feels like nothing is working out; where we feel more inclined to give up than keep going. This is not just an experience limited to the gym, but something we all must face when working towards our dreams and goals.
Challenges build who we are. It is supposed to be hard. And there is no better place to illustrate this concept than the gym. It is why workouts are so much more than just a way to get fit. They teach us about ourselves. They show the benefits of resilience and the reward that comes from simply staying the course.
In the gym, we have some good days, we have some okay days, and we all have some bad days. Sometimes these can turn into bad weeks (or even months). It is in these times that we feel ourselves backsliding, and we wonder, ‘Is this even worth it? Should I even be doing this anymore?’
It is in those moments that we can grow the most. It is the hard times that make the good ones that much better. We will be discussing fitness specifically in this article, but please note that this concept can also apply to any pursuit in life.
Stress isn’t inherently bad
Just as with so many concepts in life, stress is not inherently a ‘bad’ thing. Yes, it can be, but there are also many instances of stress leading to positive changes and adaptations in life (for a deeper dive, check out this article).
Let’s look at any workout. We are breaking down our bodies; we are placing large amounts of stress on our bodies during most CrossFit workouts. And yet, with the proper recovery, we come back stronger.
Challenges Create Resilience
The challenges that we face in the gym should be viewed as a more positive form of stress. They place us in very uncomfortable positions (such as bike sprints), but we know that by pushing through, we build resilience. If we can make it through one brutal workout, we know we can do it again.
The more we seek out challenges in the gym (in a safe manner, of course), the more we build that resilience, and the more comfortable we become with discomfort. Through this process, we find that we are capable of so much more than we initially imagined.
Development of New Skills
When we overcome challenges, we must refine our current methods to adapt to new stimuli.
By putting ourselves in those not-so-fun situations (for example, a poorly paced workout), we learn what did and did not work. We learn to move more efficiently or approach a workout in a different way.
Reflect on the beginning of your fitness journey. Chances are, there were many times you thought you knew how to attack a workout, or times when you thought you would be able to accomplish a skill with little problem.
However, you were likely proven wrong, and you had to reassess your fitness level and learn a different approach to a skill or workout. Though this is never a fun experience, it is something that sparks growth.
Building A Growth Mindset
As we navigate these challenges that force us to adapt and change, we begin to focus less on a destination and appreciate the steps we take in pursuing that end goal. We are more open to feedback and constructive criticism, knowing that it will ultimately help us.
We are building a growth mindset through this process. This is the idea that our minds are malleable, able to change and adapt to allow us to become stronger. The mind is just as crucial as any muscle in terms of our growth in the fitness world. If we are not open to change and challenges, we will be stagnant, never reaching the heights we desire.
As we embark on this journey, we discover that we seek out challenges rather than letting them come to us. Instead of reacting, we prepare. Our fitness journey will likely have more downs than ups. And yet, though the lows are never enjoyable, we learn to love them in a different way.
If it were easy, would it be worth it?
The challenges are what truly shape the athletes and people we become in life. If your goals came easily, would they even be worth it? Or is it the struggles, the dark days, that genuinely make the good days that much more beautiful?
Ultimately, there is no final destination. We will always face another challenge, but by accepting them and embracing the hard times, we make the journey that much more worth it.
