THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS

I am a big reader and always have been. I will read anything- fiction, nonfiction, biographies, reference, science fiction, self-help, even a cereal box. Back when Oprah’s book club was popular, I would usually try to read her selection. Say what you will, but that book club exposed a lot of people to the joy of reading, as well as to different genres someone may not usually be open to. Back in the Naughties (I think that’s what you call the 2000 decade), Oprah got on this big Eckhart Tolle kick. I think she did a whole internet seminar around one of his books. I didn’t catch the seminar, but I did pick up Tolle’s book, “The Power of Now,” and found a quote inside that literally changed my life:

All fear comes from living in the past or the future, which are both in our minds. In reality, it is always NOW. As long as we stay with the NOW, we have peace. Knowing this, we can choose peace at any moment. (Tolle)

From my journal

I used to be a person that lived in the future. I worried about this. I worried about that. I was even awful on car trips, impatient to get where we were going and always asking, “Are we there yet?” I am somewhat of a control freak (yes, I will admit that), and I was constantly trying to control that which I could not.

Tolle’s quote taught me to live in the present. You can’t control what is going to happen in the future, and you can’t change what has happened in the past. But you can decide, right now, in this moment, to be happy.

I have shared this quote with many people. You know the cryptic Facebook statuses people put up that say something like, “I am scared.” Well, if that’s your status, don’t be surprised if I send you the above quote. I share it with those who are going through difficult times. Learning to live in the present will provide you with the peace you are searching for.

So, what in the world does this have to do with CrossFit you might be asking. A couple weeks ago, an article appeared in the “Huffington Post” entitled, “The Now of CrossFit.” It was written by Erin Joy Henry, a former CrossFit skeptic who has since found the light (ha! ha!), and can be read here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-henry/crossfit-benefits_b_2517656.html

In that article, there was a great quote about what happens during a CrossFit workout:

What is difficult for an outsider to see is that these people just went to a place inside the box, and themselves, that isn’t accessible to them at any other point in their day. The physical intensity of the workout gave them no choice but to draw their attention inward — to the now. In the now, or the present moment, the mind experiences a much needed gift of rest. (Henry)

In the moment…

Bingo! That is exactly what happens during a workout! You are not able to worry about what has happened or what will happen. All of your concentration and focus is on the NOW. Why had I never seen the correlation between the power of the present and CrossFit before?

We recently had a new member join us at ALL IN CrossFit who has a child with cancer, and we were just talking about this subject today. As a parent, I cannot imagine what it must be like to watch your child endure an illness like that. This parent already has such a happiness about her despite her child being sick that I have a feeling she has already learned to live in the present. However, my wish for her is that in her workout she is able to escape every worry and concern that she has for her child. I hope that while she is working her body harder than she has ever worked it, her mind is given the rest she needs to go home and be strong for her family.

Try to live in the present and see what happens. Shake off those things that hurt you from the past. You ain’t ever gonna be able to change the past. Quit worrying about what might happen in the future. You ain’t ever gonna be able to control the future. Live for this moment you have been given right now. Decide to put a smile on your face (Right now! Go on, do it!), enjoy the present, and unlock the secret to happiness!