Fake It Until You Make It

The military spent a lot of effort to make sure I could tell what you are thinking.

One of the biggest keys is body language.  If you turn off the sound of an interview and watch only the interaction, your ability to tell if they are lying goes up to about 80%.  Some things you just can’t hide, unless you’re a psychopath.   You have non-verbal cues that help listeners know you’re telling the truth.

The obvious factor most people fail to consider is that body language is a form of communication–a complex give-and-take where we influence one another.  I learned to use my body language to open people up and make it easier for them to talk.  Portraying a powerful, trustworthy persona was essential.  Before someone would trust me to reveal secrets, they needed to feel they could trust me.

In other words, if I played the part of the trustworthy figure with power to help, people trusted me to help them.

We have these interactions everyday with spouses, teachers, coworkers, and strangers.

Your Amygdalae Are Showing

Despite our iPhones and modern civilization,  our lizard brain still creeps to surface and sabotages our best efforts at  success.  Fortunately you can not only “quiet the lizard brain” but you can completely reprogram it through conscious effort.

Research shows that your body language feeds back to your brain.  In other words, you can “fake it until you make it,” and your body and mind appear hardwired to do so.  If you take on a “power pose” you are perceived as more powerful, which then results in a greater feeling of power.

Tame the Lizard

Practicing good posture actually creates a metabolic response that results in others perceiving you more positively.  As eloquently stated by Dr Amy Cuddy,

“Our bodies change our minds

…and our minds change our behavior

…and our behavior changes our outcomes.”

CrossFit and the Lizard Brain

Everything we do requires assuming a power position — then we add weight.  As coaches we love watching someone the changes as you come in: afraid at first and not wanting to stand out then gaining some confidence when you do a first pull-up, a heavy squat with a bar heavier than you.  We love watching you nervously excited, holding back your fear as the clock starts its 10-second lead in.

Everyday CrossFit gives you the chance to stand up to fear.  At CrossFit Mt Olympus we strive to create a safe environment where it’s okay to fail.  We’re practicing and helping each other get better.  We all gain when someone refuses to listen to the lizard brain and stands tall.

We all cheer when someone struggles through a seemingly impossible workout and refuses to quit.  There is something empowering about posting your time, even if you came in last.

Stand tall and own it.  You won’t be last forever.  And others will notice.

I

ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΑΥΤΟΝ

Visitors in ancient Greece  seeking wisdom at the Oracle at Delphi encountered a two-word inscription on the temple wall:  ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΑΥΤΟΝ, an ancient Greek phrase meaning “Know Thyself.” We started CrossFit Mt Olympus to change our own lives through physical fitness.  We knew that being stronger and faster would make other aspects of our lives better.  Like Prometheus, we wanted to share the CrossFit fire with humanity. This is why we chose the name CrossFit Mt Olympus: we found the way to unleash our inner gods and goddesses.

As we have contemplated over the last four years why we do CrossFit, “Know Thyself” summed it up succinctly.

Change Your Life

Our goal is to help you be a better person outside the gym walls.  We all have different goals and purposes for life.  As coaches, we know you will be better parents,  , spouses, teachers, whatever you choose to be, you will be better because you are stronger in body, mind and spirit.

Everyday you will face your inner fears and that lying voice that says, “You can’t do this, you’re not good enough.”  Hopefully nothing in your day will approach the challenge of the Workout of the Day.

 Join us on the journey.  The quest to “know thyself” will change you.  And you’re going to like who you become.  I guarantee it.