CFH Core Values Blog Series!
Only one more week left in the Core Values blog series. This week JP talks about Integrity.
Integrity – we are honest, ethical, and fair in the gym and outside of the gym. I will do the right thing regardless of who might know about it.
The past few weeks the coaches at CFH have elaborated on the core values that Geo has laid as critical for the success of both the gym and it’s members. The thought is that these values will guide us when making choices here at the gym whether at the level of owner, coach or athlete. Integrity, simply defined as “doing the right thing”, is the at foundation of these values.
Integrity is typically talked about as something that is absolute. We say that a person has integrity or not but in practice it is something more subtle. I think everyone has integrity. It is whether or not we choose to act with integrity that matters. This is easier said than done.
I have a similar list of values that I’ve written out for myself and integrity is first on my list as well. I try to live in a way that no matter who is around or what the situation is I “do the right thing”. In practical terms this means that I mess this one up way more than I’d like to admit. Whoops.
The problem isn’t that I don’t want to do the right thing, it’s that life keeps muddying the waters. Do I go workout or stay late to finish a project at work? What about decisions with incomplete information? How about those times where stress has overwhelmed your better judgement? I can look back at numerous situations where the “right thing” wasn’t the choice I’ve made. Many of them where cringe worthy and the reasons for those decisions range from “somewhat acceptable” to “what were you thinking?!”
So if life keeps making things unclear how do you go about doing the right thing? Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:
- Get a good routine going – This is especially true for those everyday decisions that might trouble us. If you can set up things ahead of time, you remove the need to rationalize some other choice.
- Find a couple good people – Hang around people who “have” integrity (Tons at CFH!) and it rubs off on you. The same goes for hanging around people who don’t.
- Get some perspective – this could also be called “remember what matters”. Slow down and make sure you are doing the right thing for the right reason.
Finally, remember one thing: that we have an infinite number of chances at this integrity thing. Made a bunch of bad choices yesterday? No problem – today make a few good ones, no matter how small and no matter who is watching. String a few of those together and you’re living with integrity. That is all there is to it.
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Friday Nights Lights – Triple 3 This weekend at CFH!
This Friday night at the 6:30pm class we will be doing Triple 3 and hanging out afterwards for some drinks. All are welcome. Triple 3 was a 2014 CrossFit Games workout that consists of 3,000 meters on the rower, 300 Double Unders, and a 3 mile run. In other words, a very long workout. It took Games athletes 30-45 minutes to complete. That being said, you are welcome to approach this in any way you would like. If you want to tackle it head on, go for it. If you want to share the work with a partner (or two), or cut out some of the doubles, rowing, or running, you can do that, too. It is about coming out, getting a good sweat, and enjoying the company of other CFH athletes. We hope to see you there!