I’m not sure what was in the water this past weekend but for Opens workout 20.4 there were PRs, personal records, all over the place. How fun is it to watch someone make a heavy clean and jerk? Or complete a movement for the first time? I mean, people jump up, cheer, maybe even uncomfortably hug you. You get high fives and fist bumps. Social media likes. And they are awesome and we feel good. Rightfully so!
I was talking to someone from the gym and he said, “For me, coming to the gym is easy. People jump down and finish my last burpees or cheer me on through them. But when I PR the crap out of how I eat or PR my sleep with 4 consistent nights of 8 hours…I don’t get one high five or ‘attaboy.’ You know, sometimes I look around the supermarket when I skip the bakery aisle waiting for someone to jump out and carry me out on their shoulders. Surprisingly that hasn’t happened.”
I laughed. Out loud.
And then I stopped laughing. Because he’s right. Accountability is motivating. Community is encouraging. We want to celebrate our PRs!! But what do we do when that is absent? What do we order at the restaurant or do at night when we look at the clock and know “we should go to bed” or are overwhelmed because of stress? Because let me tell you no one is clapping at 11pm at night.
Bob Proctor said this: Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results.
People in the gym get us through workouts. If we really want to commit to a healthy life, maybe we need someone (or people) to challenge and encourage us outside of the gym too.