Author Archive
Born to Learn
December 12, 2011 | 
Author As a teacher, it is easy to get caught up in thinking that people want to be taught. That they are so desperate for what a coach can share with them. Although I believe people are thirsty for knowledge, they are not desiring to be taught. They want to learn. They want to experience. Everyone is capable of growing into what they desire to be. The website Born to Learn has been built to help us in this quest.
I am ready to learn. Are you?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
Tags: Born to learn, change, coaching, commitment, education, learning, teaching | 
No Comments »
The Value of Rest
Hi!
Anyone exhausted today? Like most people in the US, late nights, early mornings, work, family, and “stuff”, rule the way we live . Since I have this conversation multiple times a day with clients, I’m guessing maybe, just maybe, you fit into the group that is T-I-R-E-D!
First question: Why do we live this way?
Second question: Does life have to be this way?
I want to know what makes you tick. Let me know your answers in the comments!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: commitments, Life, living, recovery, Rest, sleep, tired | No Comments »
Acts of Sacrifice
Most of the time I hear the word sacrifice, my mind goes negative. I’m human, and American, and from a long line of Flemings who seem to look at what is wrong with the picture before seeing what is great about it. I’ve been socialized and created my own bad habits. Based on these few associations, the word sacrifice brings out the dark voices in my head. The idea of giving up an old habit or ideal for one that is better, is a daunting task. It probably doesn’t have to be though. For example, if today, someone offered me a new BMW in exchange for my Escape, I’d be pretty stoked. I would be sacrificing my loyalty to my current vehicle, the investment I’ve made in it, and my excellent gas mileage, among other things. My insurance would likely increase and I’d certainly expend more time caring for the new beauty. I didn’t have to do a mental checklist to know that I would snap up that BMW in a second. So, why when we make a decision to commit to an exercise prescription, a different style of eating, more creative spending habits, a relationship, or in my case giving up fries and chips as my recovery foods, do we hesitate to sacrifice? My belief is that it’s all a matter of perspective. PS: I’m not sure I have expressed my deep love for french fries and chips of all kinds. I’m truly non biased when it comes to french fries. Oh boy, the thought is making my mouth water right now!!
Anyway, too often we view sacrifice as something we are giving up versus what there is to gain. This can be in reference to what we do for ourselves as well as others.
Let’s observe my fry/chip dilemma.
Picture this: A possible scenario for first conversation with myself, of course, about the sacrifice of delectable fried potato goodness
Me: “This month I ‘d like a challenge”
Me #2: “Oooh, what kind of challenge are you thinking of?”
Me: “I’m thinking maybe something diet related. I’ve been been bored with my choices.”
Me #2: “What about something that will help you recover from workouts more efficiently and add variety?”
Me: “That sounds awesome! I could work on perfecting my post workout shakes. It’d also be cool to check out some new recipe sites for some new anti-inflammatory, recovery foods. I haven’t done a ton of research in that area before.”
Ok, now what really happened:
Me (Texting to my pal Stacey): “Do you think I can give up chips and fries for December?”
Stacey: ”Are non fried potatoes allowed. And that includes sweet potato fries?”
Me: “Yep, I will still bake potatoes, but no ‘fries’”
Stacey: “So hard. But of course you can do it…”
This isn’t the most negative conversation of all time, but you get the gist of where we were going. I clearly wasn’t seeing this as a positive. Each scenario gives a completely different outlook on how my December will go.
What’s the take-away? If we frame our conversations around sacrifice and commitment in the light of the potential benefits instead of the pitfalls, we are more likely to succeed. In fact, we might even enjoy it!
What do you want to gain in your life that requires a sacrifice to be made?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: belief, commitment, food, mental challenges, positive thinking, sacrifice, self-talk | 1 Comment »
The Way of Transformation
I posted this blog on my Strong and Chic page, but I thought most of you from SWCF could use this too.
Do you imagine yourself going into battle when you step into the gym? Are you willing to be annihilated to make progress in the gym and in your life?
Take a peak at this blurb from Karlfried Graf von Durckheim’s book The Way of Transformation.
“The man who, being really on the Way, falls upon hard times in the world, will not, as a consequence, turn to a friend who offers him refuge and comfort and encourage his old self to survive. Rather, he will seek out someone who will faithfully and inexorably help him to risk himself so that he may endure the suffering and pass courageously through it, thus make of it a “raft that leads to the far shore”. Only to the extent that man exposes himself over and over again to annihilation, can that which is indestructible arise within him. In this lies the dignity of daring. Thus, the aim of practice is not to develop an attitude which allows a man to acquire a state of harmony and peace wherein nothing can ever trouble him. On the contrary, practice should teach him to let himself be assaulted, perturbed, moved, insulted, broken and battered- that is to say, it should enable him to dare to let go his futile hankering after harmony, surcease from pain, and a comfortable life in order that he may discover in doing battle with the forces that oppose him, that which awaits him beyond the world of opposites. The first necessity is that we should have the courage to face life, and to encounter all that is the most perilous in the world. When this is possible, meditation itself becomes the means by which we accept and welcome the demons which arise from the unconscious- a process very different from the practice of concentration on some object as a protection against such forces. Only if we venture repeatedly through zones of annihilation, can our contact with Divine Being, which is beyond annihilation, become firm and stable. The more a man learns whole-heartedly to confront the world that threatens him with isolation, the more the depths of the Ground of Being revealed and the possibilities on new life and Becoming open.”
Be willing to take a risk.
Take a look around
I know we’ve all hear the cliche quote “Stop and smell the roses”, but do you ever stop and do that?
I challenge you to spend some time this week walking around your neighborhood. Look at the people around you. Listen. Learn. Enjoy your surroundings. The more you pay attention to them, the more you’ll fall in love.
Attitude of gratitude people.
Happy Sunday!
Mastery…
Holla!
It’s Tuesday and it’s time to start talking about becoming a Master. No, not the creepy kind. Geez. What I mean is becoming a master of a certain domain.
Becoming a master of a certain task, sport, or job, eludes most of us. Since I am constantly trying to figure out why, I’ve been reading a book titled Drive, by Daniel H. Pink. This book is money. Like, I literally hit the jackpot when I picked up this book at the airport (Thank you SFO). It has so many practical tools on the how to’s of mastery. In the book, Mr. Pink, with the help of those he has studied, defines mastery as deliberate practice. Drive has a section with tips on how to move into the direction mastery. I’m going to quote his steps since my synopsis won’t do these tools justice:
1. “Remember that deliberate practice has one objective: to improve performance. …Deliberate practice is about changing your performance, setting new goals and straining yourself to reach a bit higher each time”
2. “Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repetition matters. Basketball greats don’t shoot ten free throws at the end of team practice; they shoot five hundred.”
3. “Seek constant, critical feedback. If you don’t know how you’re doing, you won’t know what to improve.”
4. “Focus ruthlessly on where you need help. While many of us work on what we’re already good at, says Ericsson, ‘those who get better work on their weaknesses.’”
5. “Prepare for the process to be mentally and physically exhausting. That’s why so few people commit to it, but that’s why it works.”
Most of us think things should come easy to us, when really the best things in life come from a challenge. What you challenging yourself to do today?
Jess
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Challenge, Daniel H. Pink, deliberate practice, Drive, exhaustion, feedback, focus, mastery, motivation, repetition | 2 Comments »
Do it, Do it, Do it!
Hello again!
CrossFit and it’s community is a great modality for change. It has been created to enhance your life in whatever way it applies to you. CrossFit helps people to grow mentally and physically. Many times, it is easy to get lost in being first on the board or not last. I’ve been caught up many times thinking that I “should” be better at CrossFit. Then, I remember the reasons I continue to train this way. I want to be heathy. I want to be social. I want to look awesome. I enjoy doing things I don’t want to do (A little sadistic?) Last, but certainly not least, I want to be the best athlete I can possibly be. Not the best CrossFit athlete, but the best at my chosen sport, Volleyball. Doing what we do at StoneWay CrossFit has allowed me to out play, out hustle, and out muscle people. The physical gains that I have made, have increased my confidence like I could have never expected. CrossFit has given me hope that anything is possible when you stay committed.
Has CrossFit done anything like that for you? Why do you do CrossFit? Looking good naked is totally an acceptable answer. I want to know why you do what you do! Hit me up in the comments section.
PS: If you guys are bored this weekend, you should totally drive up to Vancouver, BC to cheer on me and Stoneway members Jess Seyfert and Tim Hamann. We’ll be beating up on some Canadians in the Vancouver Open. Just in case you don’t know, it’s a beach volleyball tournament.
Jess
Yay for Monday!
Fear, Freedom, and What the F?
Hey ya’ll!
If you haven’t noticed, this is my first blog post. Honestly, I have been avoiding writing a blog. A little, actually a huge part of me, fears the repercussions of sharing my authentic self over the internet. That feels totally lame to say out loud, but it’s the truth. What are the possible effects? Hmm, first the possible negatives: people will think I’m boring, someone will correct my grammar, I’ll sound totally ridiculous, people won’t benefit from reading this blog…I could go on an on with my fears, so let’s move on to the positives: the blog could lead to growth for me personally and professionally, people will benefit from sharing my experiences, and it could be fun. Despite the many fears I have around authentically sharing my experiences, I have to trust that this experience will bring the freedom and connection.
So now this has me thinking, starting this blog is like many of you starting/doing CrossFit. There are so many unknowns. Will I “fail”? What if someone is faster or stronger? What if I can’t finish? What the hell is a power clean?! I admire the fact that each and everyday, you guys make a commitment to showing up. You face your fears and get work done. Thanks for inspiring me!
Now I saw, what the f?! I’m writing this blog. Look out for posts on regular basis. Yikes!!
Thanks for being rad members of StoneWay CrossFit. We heart you guys.
Coach Jess
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: CrossFit Seattle, Fear, Freedom, StoneWay CrossFit, WTF | 2 Comments »