Free to Change

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up and decide you are going to change? There is that one thing about you that has been nagging even yourself. You wrestle with whether it is realistic or simply a great idea. You think about how long you have been a certain way and hope that patterns are not set in stone. All you want is to be ... better. Better today than you were last night when you laid your head on the pillow.


Behavior change is not an easy task. A hundred pounds ago, I was aware of the dangerous path I was putting my health into. I didn't do anything about it. I knew the facts, I had people try to bluntly explain to me the fearful consequences my health was leading to: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc,  however; I didn't take any action to change the behavior of my diet. I knew what I was suppose to do, but I was not doing it. That is until I came home from the doctor with some data that resulted in a very low level of my health, I was advised to start eating better and lose weight. I started to realize that my health was actually indeed affecting me. This is after my father had passed away from a heart disease. I now had an emotional connection to the information my peers had been giving me all the time. All of the sudden the facts where now more serious to me.

Better health is not a science problem it is an information problem. Changing a behavior simply does not work by creating fear. How would you create change? Do you tell someone through fear how bad poor eating, abuse of exercise or smoking is and how it may kill you in one way or another? We can educate in another way.

Watch this video for a better explanation of what works to create change. I can surely relate this to CrossFit methodologies. What the CrossFit community is doing is exactly this. We are all sharing personal experiences to help change the behavior of others. Listen to the study in Connecticut (starting 2:15) it explains that fear is not the answer. To change ones behavior, it is about making a connection with the person and directing them to their choices to help make action.

I believe the CrossFit community has been doing this all along, and that is why it is so effective. Not only are lives being changed but so is conventional wisdom. But conventional wisdom vs CrossFit mentality is a whole other hot topic. Today, think about how much you can help change with your experiences through CrossFit. Share it and you may spark interest to others and help lead him / her to a better path.

Today I am free to change.

Be the change you want to see in the world
Mahatma Gandhi