Your view of the world is unique. That thought your mind jumps to as soon as you hear or read a statement. These views are formed through the timelines of a person’s life and the experiences they undergo along the way.
Once these ideas form in our minds they’re often set in stone. Old ways of thinking can, however, be disrupted when we face a form of “chaos.” It may sound contradictory, but when one is faced with a chaotic situation in which your mind contemplates fight or flight, the only way to succeed is to focus solely on what is important. To be able to dull out the peripheral noises and truly listen to your heart and mind. This is what we call ‘concentrated effort.’ It’s in these situations that we gain a new sense of perspective, even for a short while, before we get swept up in our ‘busy’ lives and autopilot takes over again.
We’re all caught up in our own little bubble. We drive comfortably in our air-conditioned cars while complaining about how much traffic there is. If the weather isn’t too hot then it’s too cold. Either things are too easy or they weren’t challenging enough. In a world where comfort and convenience is the norm we all feel that we “deserve” more. We have become entitled to instant gratification.
Training can be an excellent form of disrupting this norm, but only if you are willing to reach a place of discomfort. If you are, it can be an extremely strong force in changing preconceived notions, particularly those notions you may have had regarding your own capabilities.
Once you truly enter that stage of chaos you forget about all the bullshit in your life. You don’t remember if you had the right pre-workout meal or if you got enough sleep. You could care less what the traffic is going to be like later or how many likes you got on Instagram. There’s only one thing on your mind – succeeding at what you set out to do. Get through it. Push on.
Over the past year I’ve made an enormous psychological shift to this way of thinking. I’ve come to embrace the chaos. It allows me to sharpen my body and my mind, and in doing so I’m able to slice away most of the insignificance that exists in my world. Those times show me what really matters. The result is that my physical performance has improved, as I’m able to change my perspectives of what my body is capable of by committing wholeheartedly to the training and being present in the chaos.
In the last year, while coaching at Roark, I’ve witnessed how a person’s perspective can be changed through physical training.
I’ve seen it from both sides. From the fittest people who just can’t get out of their ‘old’ way of thinking, to the new members who believe me wholeheartedly when I tell them they’re capable of achieving their goals. The more I coach, the more I realize that what ultimately separates these two groups is the willingness to go to that place of true discomfort, but more than that, to keep returning to that place. To remain uncomfortable in the never ending journey of self-improvement.
Ultimately, not everyone is fortunate enough to have good health and to be able truly push their limits to the point where change can be made. So if you are blessed to have an able body, I challenge you to truly open your mind and be willing to realize your potential.
We all need chaos for some perspective.