Sunday Story…Growth vs. Fixed

Your mindset is the most important component of your success and well being. According to Viktor Frankl the only real freedom we have, the only one that can never be taken from us is the freedom to choose our attitude.

Too many of us get stuck in a “fixed” mindset. In other words, we are in an endless feedback loop that looks and sounds like this: there is nothing I can do about my future, things are out of my control, why do all the bad things happen to me, why bother. This negative self-talk puts all of the control externally…outside of you.

Compare this with a “growth” mindset where the feedback loop may look more like this: I determine my future, I make things happen, and I can do more…this thought pattern keeps all of the control internally…within my grasp.

A fixed mindset is a learned mindset. We get it from our experiences and from input from our families, teachers, and others. We are conditioned to think and be this way. Learned helplessness is not genetic or innate. We can re-condition our thinking. We can change negative self talk to positive. We can shift and change…if we choose to.

Given a choice, doesn’t it make more sense to be kind to yourself? To say nice things? To build yourself up? To take control of your attitude and make things happen?

Choose your attitude, change your life.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…the Cocoon

Way back when you were a wee child, you learned new things all the time. It didn’t matter that you weren’t very good at them for a while. Eventually, you got better. You wanted the outcome (I Can Walk!) and the struggle to get there was far outweighed by the desire to get the outcome.

And now, some decades into learning new stuff, I may be a little tired of the feeling that comes along with the process of learning new stuff. I want the outcome but now the journey looks much more difficult.

The journey really isn’t any more difficult…think about learning to walk…you fell down innumerable times…that’s hard, picking yourself up time after time. No, now the problem is I don’t like feeling incompetent. Unfortunately, if I want to grow I am going to have to get uncomfortable.

The process is something like this:
1. I realize something can be done.
2. I realize I can’t do it
3. I get better at doing it if I am willing to keep after it.

Step 2 is where things get messy. That’s the grey mess of the transformation cocoon. It’s frustrating, difficult and uncomfortable. But the growth and transformation make it worth the struggle.

I Can Walk!!!!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…You Can Always

Do more than you think you can. Can you really? How does that work anyway?

Your mind is the limiting factor in anything. How does an ordinary person in a stressful situation act with superhuman strength? The mind would say no, there is no way I can do that and logically it would be right. If I look at your body I might say your mind is right. Yet we are regaled time after time with stories of amazing feats of human achievement.

Your mind is a powerful tool, yet it will force you to stop before you are really done. This is a self-protection device. Your mind is in charge of making sure your body can rise again tomorrow. It won’t let you go over the edge if it can stop you.

Yet I see often people going further than their mind would tell them they can. What is this device? What is it that has me override the brake telling me to stop and continue on?

Will. My will can override my mind. I can will 1 more rep, pick myself up 1 more time, do what my mind said was impossible.

The cultivation of will is a practice. The stronger your will the more your mind becomes the tool of the will. I can impose my will on myself.

Will yourself to do more than you think you can.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Fit and Healthy

Not all fit people are healthy. Not all healthy people are fit. It is a dichotomy of our modern lives.

It used to be that if you were healthy you would be relatively fit. You worked outside, carried, lifted, and engaged in physical activity. There wasn’t much choice. If you wanted to survive you had to be fit. On the flip side, if you weren’t fit you probably weren’t very healthy either…sickly, predisposed to ailments and generally in poor humor.

The goal is to find the perfect (for you) blend of those 2 things. What does healthy AND fit look like to you? 6-pack abs? Doable. Run a marathon? OK. Coach your kid’s soccer team? Done. Learning new skills or languages? Nice. Having fulfilling social interactions? Wonderful.

I define fitness in a broad, general and inclusive way…increased work capacity over broad time and modal domains. To put it more simply…the ability for my body to do what I want, when I want and however fast I want. This doesn’t mean I am unrealistic; I do have some limiting factors that are out of my control.

I define health in a similar way…health is the state of physical, mental and social well being. It is not just the absence of sickness or injury. I need to not just be healthy in my body but in my mind and in my relationships as well.

Now how are you going to get fit and healthy? That is the million dollar question, isn’t it? Maybe we can help…

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…You and

Your Health.

You notice that this title starts with You. Your health is up to you. You can’t take it for granted. You can’t just go along fat dumb and happy and expect to enjoy stellar movement, strength, and fitness without taking things into your own hands.

Your doctor is great when you are sick, have a broken part or need to be put back together. But your doctor has neither the time nor energy to assist your pursuit of optimum health. In general, they are too busy and too overwhelmed with sick people to help healthy people. So in a world full of conflicting opinions, differing metric markers and internet charlatans what do you do?

First, eat real food. Eat quantities that fuel your performance, not your fat storage. Avoid chemical sh** storms, artificial whatsis, and added sugars. Eat lots of protein and green stuff.

Second, move it or lose it. If you don’t move you will lose the ability to move. Anything will work but some things work better than others. Pick up heavy stuff and move it…your bones will thank you. More really fast sometimes, rest a bit and repeat, again and again.

Third, be your own best arbiter of health. No one number can determine if you are skinny or fat. You decide if you like the way your clothes fit. You decide if the person looking back at you in the mirror is everything you want them to be. You and only you get to make that call.

Need help? Call us!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…It’s Magic!

Or not. There is a hilarious YouTube video about why you can’t use a cell phone on an airplane. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYAq-7sOzXQ.

There are lots of things that appear magic to us…weight loss, fitness, rocketry, bread making, electricity…but they really aren’t magic at all. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t make it magic.

I don’t understand electricity but I love the fact that the lights come on when I hit the switch. Just because I can’t explain the science behind flight doesn’t mean I won’t get on an airplane. And you don’t have to know all the ins and outs of fitness to know you are more fit than before.

You don’t have to make up some story about why it works but if you need to you can. You don’t have to cower and run when the lights come on, a plane takes off or you hit a snatch PR. You just have to take it on face value that it is working and your understanding of the thing has nothing to do with the efficacy.

Sometimes magic works.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Hierarchy

Of Needs.

We are fortunate to live in a time and place where most of our basic physiological needs are easily met. Most of us have food, shelter, and clothing. We are safe, and secure, have relationships and places we belong, and things we do that bring us joy.

The top of the pyramid…the self-actualization piece is a little more difficult. It requires introspection, a willingness to look at yourself deeply and ask some intensive and uncomfortable questions…

What do you really want?
How do you want us to remember you?
What legacy are you building?
Are you living your purpose, on purpose?
If today was your last day, have you said all that needed to be said, told all the stories you had to tell, gave the world the gifts you were here to deliver?

No? Maybe it’s time. Maybe it’s overdue. What’s the stop? You needn’t worry about your basic needs or your psychological needs. So let’s get to work dancing on the top of the pyramid.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412