We tend to develop a set of standards by which we define our own identity, in this case, our fitness identity. We pigeon-hole our capabilities based on previous performance, external expectations, and pre-conceived barriers.
Nowhere do I see this more apparent than in grading for local throwdown style CrossFit competitions – events where we must categorise ourselves into beginner, intermediate or prescribed. All too often I see athletes enter themselves in a beginner category, because they’re a ‘beginner level CrossFitter’, or intermediate because they’re an ‘intermediate level CrossFitter’. Effectively, they are constraining themselves to a certain fitness identity.
The thing is, people get really good at meeting their own expectations.
This can be a very dangerous thing, or a very powerful tool.
To understand why, we must revisit a previous post:
The Pygmalion Effect (or Rosenthal Effect) refers to a self fulfilling prophecy. Let me take you back to a story told to me by my first year Psychology Professor. Bear in mind that this research dates back to the days before ethics committees (and seemingly – research rules of any kind).
A group of school children are administered a test. Unbeknown to the teachers, the test results are never looked at and are thrown away. The researchers randomly allocate the students into a ‘smart’ group, or a ‘not smart’ group. The teachers are told that the test has indicated that the children in the ‘smart group’ have a greater propensity to learn – but they are not instructed to teach the kids in the ‘smart’ group any different to those in the ‘not smart’ group.
At the end of the school year, the students are re-tested and (you guessed it) the kids in the ‘smart group’ now fit the label they have been assigned. Consciously or not, the teachers have taught these kids more advanced material – based purely on the expectation that they can handle it. Handle it they did.
How does this relate to exercise? If we base our expectations too much on age/appearance/experience or any other preconceived notion – an individual will match our expectations.
This effect becomes even stronger when we direct these expectations to ourselves. Remember, people get really good at meeting their own expectations.
‘Fitness classifications’ are subjective human constructs. Our fitness lies on an ever moving, continuous and seamless multi-axial web, not in a pre-defined box. Although classifications suit CrossFit competition, their usefulness ends there. Their danger lies in them escaping from the realm of organised contests, halting progress, and placing a ceiling on your athletic potential.
Don’t pigeon hole your fitness. Don’t limit yourself. Raise your expectations of yourself, then get really good at meeting them.
‘Attitude does indeed define altitude’.
