Why do we keep coming back for more? Humans don’t like pain. It is our instinct to avoid it at all costs. We hide from it, numb ourselves to it and pretend like it doesn’t exist. So why do CrossFitters walk through the gym doors every day and embrace pain head on?
I like this quote from the original CrossFit Games champion, James “OPT” Fitzgerald.
“The better you can get at being comfortable with being uncomfortable, in any aspect of life – not just fitness, the better off you are. When you get deep into CrossFit and you battle fatigue and you battle demons and you battle injuries, day-to-day life becomes so easy to manage. Relationship problems, stuff at the office, become minimal. It’s like you hear someone complaining and you’re like, man, you don’t even know what the Filthy Fifty is like.”
We can’t fairly compare the physical and mental battle of CrossFit with the traumas that humans encounter throughout life. When suffering through a WOD, we can choose to walk away at any time. This is often not the case with personal tragedy or pain.
However, there is merit to the idea that we can train our bodies and minds to increase our pain tolerance, so we can be better equipped to deal with pain outside the gym. When faced with a particularly arduous workout, the challenge is to recognize and accept or embrace the pain it brings. CrossFit teaches us to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
We embrace the burning lungs and aching muscles because we know we will be a better version of ourselves when the clock beeps time. No, a WOD is not ‘real life’, but anyone who has really pushed through Fight Gone Bad knows just how good it feels to work through pain to triumphant completion. I have watched the self-confidence of athletes skyrocket as they accomplish a goal or dominate an awful workout. For me, CrossFit truly boosted my confidence, reduced my anxiety and helped me through some tough times. Everything is easier when you feel good about yourself.
The pain of a WOD can also be a sweet escape. Everyone has their problems, but for an hour or so, anger, frustration and sadness can be channelled in a productive way. Be in the moment and focus on the barbell and your breathing. It’s like a badass form of meditation. The rush of endorphins post-workout almost always helps with a positive attitude.
Embrace the suck. Pushing your physical and mental parameters will expand them so that you can better deal with pain inside and outside of the gym. We like to hurt, because it feels damn good to overcome it.
