At the beginning of this year, I joined the annual New Years’ pilgrimage to the gym. You know, the one where they make space for a new crowd that’s only going to last 2 weeks. Well, it’s been 7 months of CrossFit and one heck of a wild ride.

In case you are not familiar, CrossFit is a fitness regimen that is made up of constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. Translation: You go to the gym, a coach leads the class and provides instructions for the workout and by the end of it you feel like you barely escaped with your life. Needless to say, it’s hard AF.

Here are 7 lessons on doing the hard thing featuring CrossFit.

1. The struggle is not real, it’s imagined

Triggering, I know, but hear me out. Having lived in Texas for 20 years, you would think I am well acclimated to 100-degree summer days. If you’ve never experienced it, simply open the oven door while a casserole is baking. That’s how it feels when we open our front doors during the summer.

I’m telling you about the heat because the gym that I go to is simply a metal warehouse with equipment. A big ass fan is the only source of relief between you and Texas’s finest. And so when spring turned into summer, I was sure that it was going to be impossible to continue working out at Noon, which is the only class that fits my schedule.

As the temperature rose, so did my belief that I couldn’t possibly survive another workout. Keep in mind that the temperature inside the metal building is even hotter than the outside. We’re talking upwards of 110 degrees Farenheight. Yet here we are in August and I haven’t missed a class.

Hard things will challenge what you believe about yourself and your situation. In those moments, you can choose to acknowledge the challenge and keep pushing or you can choose to remain in the same place and never find out what’s on the other side. If you focus on the struggle, it will paralyze you, but if you keep moving and giving your best effort, you will be amazed by what you can do in the toughest of environments.

Obligatory disclaimer - Working out under extreme heat is dangerous. Please take the  necessary safety precautions

2. Check your ego at the gate, this is a no baggage flight

Just like with other new things I have tried, I SUCKED at CrossFit. To be honest, I still do. I couldn’t even squat to save my life. I think I even peed a little when I tried to snatch a barbell the first time. Most days I lift the lightest and still finish last. But guess what, I’m stronger, faster, and more confident than I was when I started.

Truth is, hard things will humble you and that’s a good thing. In fact, it’s the main thing. The whole point is to battle through it and give it your best every single time. To show up knowing that you’re going to suck and that you will ask a million questions but still not know WTF you’re doing. But then one day you will look back and discover that you’re actually badass for even attempting this shit. And you will be super proud of yourself. 

3. If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them

Full disclaimer, I am one of those people who bought a ton of exercise equipment during the pandemic including a Peloton. Cringe. So I had no business jumping into another fitness program let alone adding that additional expense to an already stretched budget.

For every hard thing you set out to do, there are countless reasons why you shouldn’t do it. It is too hard, it is too expensive, I don’t have time, I don’t fit the profile, It’s too late for me, It doesn’t make sense, I don’t look the part, I don’t have the connections… on and on and on. Each one of these reasons is fair however, the reason you should do it is more important.

There is so much to gain, so much to learn and so much to become. But if you keep defending your limitations, you get to stay where you are. Pick your pain, the pain of growth, or the pain of sameness.

4. Even when you’re doing it wrong, you’re doing it right

When I first started CrossFit I was doing everything wrong. I was stretching wrong, I was breathing wrong, I was even running wrong! Turns out there’s a proper way to run. Who knew? And don’t even get me started on how I was messing up on the technical movements. Just picture a fish doing the wobble. Not a good look.

What I came to understand later though is that the wrong movements still count. The 200 meters that I ran with bad technique still helped to improve my endurance and make me stronger. The fact that I showed up counts to keep me motivated to continue the journey. It sucks to have to start from the bottom and learn everything from scratch. But any expert craftsman will tell you that every one of those first versions is just as valuable as the masterpiece because it’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

5. People inspire you or they drain you – pick them wisely

I drive about 13 miles each way to the gym so I pass a number of other CrossFit gyms along the way. The reason I choose the one I did is because of the people. They are welcoming, non-judgmental and they encourage me to do my best.

There’s a lot to be said about choosing the company you keep but it is especially important when you decide to do a hard thing. The reality is that you will experience the full spectrum of emotions from anxiety, frustration, and guilt, all the way to energized and euphoric. It is important to have a safe space to go through those emotions and supportive people to engage with. If the people around you do not make you feel safe to try something challenging, find some new people. Even if it requires going out of your way.

6. Rest and recovery is a rule, not an option

This one speaks for itself. Rest is not just for your body, it is important for your mind too. Do you know why we get our best ideas in the shower? Because the shower is a relaxing, solitary, non-judgemental space. You absolutely want to create this kind of space to rest when you’re on a tough mission. Get your mind off things for a bit and allow your body to reset. All the wellness gurus agree that this is one of the most important things you can do to maximize your performance.

7. Release your attachment to the result

I’ve struggled with this one in other areas of my life. Letting go of the result means that I stop obsessing over numbers and indicators of progress and just enjoy the journey. And even though I’ve definitely progressed a lot over the past 7 months, I secretly wish I was further, faster, stronger. Don’t we all?

James Clear - Author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits puts it this way- “The goal in any sport is to finish with the best score, but it would be ridiculous to spend the whole game staring at the scoreboard. The only way to actually win is to get better each day.”

Releasing your attachment requires trust. Trust that you have everything it takes to deliver and that when things get tough, you have the fortitude to figure it out. Letting go of control because you know deep down that you are capable of doing hard things.