"Eyes on the Road"
We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.
-Margaret Mead
The beginning of a new year is always a good time for reflection. Another 12 months have passed, and we can look back on some of the major events that have happened around us, classify them as good or bad, as joyous or painful, and try to learn and grow from what has transpired.
Regardless of your take on 2016, from “best year ever,” all the way to “raging dumpster-fire,” the fact of the matter is this: the past is gone, and there is nothing you can do about it.
I don’t mean this to say that you should forget about the past year, or that certain events won’t have lasting ramifications into 2017 (and beyond); what I do mean to say is that moving forward, and looking ahead, is a far better strategy for success and happiness, than looking back is.
We must be always striving to move forward, to look ahead, for the next opportunity, whatever that may be. For most of us, especially those that are pursuing a better life through fitness, this means that we must be keeping our eyes on the road in front of us, and putting our energy toward what challenges come next.
This is not about worrying, or over-planning, but rather about cultivating an attitude that is forward-focused, and actively pursuing avenues for growth. This is not always easy. In fact, many people focus on the past, or things that have happened to them, unconsciously doing so to avoid working on the future, and the things that will be done by them.
We don’t need to use subdivisions such as years, months, or even days to do this. Sometimes, keeping our “eyes on the road” means letting go of just one moment, in order to give our full energy to the next moment. To put it in CrossFit terms, does failing a rep, or missing a Wall Ball, or tripping on a Double Under, cause you to lose focus on the rest of the workout? How many times have you allowed yourself to get caught up in anger and frustration over something, and it ended up “ruining your day?” Can one action, one moment, truly ruin an entire 24-hour period?
I hope that you all can join us in approaching this new year (or whatever day you are reading this on) with a forward-focused mentality. We are excited to continue growing, learning, and improving on our ability to serve you all as a community of education and support. On a personal note, I am looking forward to seeing how much more you can all do, and what kind of amazing progress we can see in the coming months, years, and (hopefully) decades. Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, tunes cranked up, lets go get it, folks!
Onward,
ACM (@fullrangecoach)