There was a lot of buzz around The Murph Challenge this Memorial Day.
For those of you who may not know, it is a Crossfit workout done in honor of a fallen Navy Seal, LT. Michael Murphy who was an amazing war fighter and a truly inspiring athlete. All of the proceeds from those who formally signed up for the challenge went into a scholarship fund in his name.
The WOD done in his honor is a workout that he did on the reg like it was no big deal... it consists of: 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, 1mile run-- and the prescribed version is to complete the entire workout with a 20lb vest or body armor.
"The ’MURPH’ is more than just a workout, it is an event that helps push us, humble us, and dedicate a bit of pain and sweat for those who have given so much! " -excerpt from www.themurphchallenge.com
It's so much more than just a workout.
This is why so many people go crazy to do this excruciating workout on Memorial Day-- that tiny bit of pain that we inflict on ourselves helps us become stronger, more appreciative Americans.
When you take the time to dedicate a personal struggle like this to such an amazing person it really lifts you up and reminds you that the world does not revolve around you.
So many men and women have given their lives to protect our freedom, and for those of us that find this sort of physical torture fun and inspiring, there is no better way to spend a holiday weekend.
So... that leads me to my big news!! I CAME IN 1ST PLACE!
Alriiiiiiiiight... I didn't actually come in "first place"-- as in... I didn't actually get the fastest time compared to all the other humans that completed the WOD throughout the weekend... BUT I STILL WON.
I won because I am my only competition.
I won because I asked my body to do things yesterday that it had never done before, wasn't sure that it could do, and I succeeded!
We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with things that are "better" than what we already have... with people who are "better" than we are... and it is time for that to STOP.
After I signed up for this challenge, I made the mistake of looking into what "normal" times for completion were... or what "good" times were and it got me really down.
There was no way I was going to be able to do all of that work in 40 minutes-- and definitely not with a weight vest.
I felt so bummed as I watched these men and women bust out the workout like it was nothing! And it made me feel like it wasn't even worth me doing it because I wasn't going to be competitive with their results.
And then I sat myself down for some real talk.
A little over a year ago, I couldn't even do one single pull-up! Seriously.
The fact that I was even considering doing 100 in one workout was crazy! Not crazy because I didn't think I could do it, I knew I could... but crazy that I thought that I should be comparing myself to people who have been Crossfit athletes for yearrrrrrssss.
I had no appreciation for the amazing journey that my own body had been on the past year!
Isn't that sick?
But it is a common pitfall-- especially for people who want to get into the fitness world but get hung up on what other people's abilities are.
The fact is: we all started from somewhere, even those people who can bust out weighted pull-ups like it ain't no thang. They couldn't do that the first time they tried either!
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And it's impossible for me, even as a fairly physically well-rounded woman to be at the same level as a dude who played collegiate football. Or a girl who has been lifting competitively since high school.
What they can do has no bearing on what I can do. They are not better humans than I am because they can do those things... and I am not a worse human because I have no desire to do Olympic lifts.
That's what we all need to realize-- your abilities do not define you.
That applies to everything in life.
We get so caught up in worrying about what everyone else is succeeding at that we often times forget to focus on what WE are succeeding at in our own lives.
The Cliff of Comparisons is a dangerous one... we get so focused watching where everyone else is going that we forget to pay attention to our own lives, and before you know it you've slipped and fallen off the cliff and you've found yourself smashed into pieces at the bottom of a valley that you can't get out of.
DON'T FALL OFF THE CLIFF, GUYS!
WHO CARES WHAT THEY ARE DOING???
That's not your life. Get over it.
Put on your big girl pants, grow up, and focus on making your own life great!
You CAN, and you WILL if you just learn to focus on yourself!
It's not selfish... it's necessary.
You can not lead a fulfilling life for you, and your spouse, and your family if you are so concerned with what Susie McSuperRich has... or how fit Jenny McLiftsAlot looks.
They have their issues too, I promise. Don't envy them for the pretty package they put on the outside for the world to see.
Chances are, you'd take your issues back in a heart beat if you knew what's hiding behind their pretty facades.
I'm not saying you shouldn't strive for more, or that you shouldn't let other people inspire you to work harder... but that's what it should be: inspiration.
Not adoration. Not jealousy or envy.
So what should you do to make positive change that you desire??
Start reaching out to people who exemplify qualities that you want to improve in your own life, that are good at things that you want to be better at, and learn how they do it.
The more time you spend with individuals, the more their qualities start to rub off on you.
Choose to spend your time connecting with people who inspire you!
Make friends with people who like the things that you like, who have goals that are similar to your goals.
Stay positive.
The energy that you send out into the Universe every day multiplies and comes back around...
let's get those positive vibes flowin!
-B-
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