Control vs Worry : The Mental Secret of the Best CrossFit AthletesControl vs Worry : The Mental Secret of the Best CrossFit Athletes
Today we’re bringing you a super interesting article inspired by the book “Chasing Excellence” by Ben Bergeron, one of the most influential coaches in the world of CrossFit speaking about control vs worry in fitness. 🏋️♂️
Want to improve your performance and mindset as an athlete? Keep reading because this could change your mindset forever.
Who is Ben Bergeron?
Ben Bergeron, from CrossFit New England (Massachusetts, USA), is recognized as one of the top high-performance coaches in the CrossFit world.
He’s worked with legendary athletes like:
- 🏆 Mat Fraser
- 🏆 Katrin Davidsdottir
- 🏆 Brooke Wells
- 🏆 Cole Sager
His focus isn’t only on physical performance but also on strengthening the athlete’s mental game.
Control vs Worry : Focus on What You Can Control
According to Bergeron, as athletes, we can only control 5 key things:
- ✅ Training
- ✅ Nutrition
- ✅ Sleep
- ✅ Recovery
- ✅ Mindset
Everything else (weather, judges, schedules, equipment, WODs, etc.) is out of our control, so it’s not worth wasting energy on it.
The 2017 CrossFit Games Example
Before the 2017 CrossFit Games, Bergeron asked his athletes (Katrin, Brooke, and Cole) to make a list of everything that could go wrong during the competition.
The result? A list of 101 potential issues: from the alarm not going off to even shark attacks! 🦈😅
- They then divided the list into two categories:
- Things they could control
- Things they couldn’t control
What did they do?
- They removed the concerns they couldn’t control from their minds.
- For the things they could control, they created an action plan.
This mindset is key to achieving athletic and personal excellence.
Use Your Energy Wisely: The Matchstick Example
Imagine your daily energy is like a box with only 20 matchsticks. Every time you stress over something out of your control, you burn one unnecessarily. When it’s time to focus on what really matters… you won’t have energy left.
👉 Don’t burn your matchsticks on unnecessary worries.
Invest your energy into things you can control: your preparation, your habits, and your attitude.
In CrossFit (and in life), the most powerful thing you can do is master your mind. Ignore the external noise, focus on your progress, and remember: you are your only real competition.
Did you like this article? Share it with your box buddies and leave us a comment below! And don’t forget to follow us on our social media for more content like this. 💪😉
About the author : David Menache
