Thanksgiving for What You Don’t Have

There’s language around gym culture about having abilities. This is especially true in fitness practices with high skill and/or task oriented training, such as CrossFit. Athletes will claim things like, “I have double unders” and coaches may ask questions phrased like, “Do you have a double bodyweight deadlift yet?”

Taking ownership of our hard earned abilities isn’t the worst thing we could be doing, but it’s worth noting that in a growth culture it’s what we don’t yet have that ought to have our interest. The way my coach, Dr. Miller, puts it is like this:

“Giving thanks for what you can already do well won’t jumpstart your growth. Seeking feedback about what you can’t yet do is well worthy of your thanksgiving.”

This isn’t a fitness concept, either. Think also about what you can’t yet do in your career, relationships, or personal expression. If you want to meet your new and improved self, you’ll need to take up interest in what you don’t yet have.

 

Logan Gelbrich

@functionalcoach