There was a time when character governed most of a person’s actions and decisions. We adhered to an internal code of conduct not because it was expected of us, or made us “look good”, but because it was the
right thing to do
, and that meant something.
We were serious, honest, disiplined, honourable, and respected others as well as ourselves. Most importantly, we acted this way in public, but also in private when no one was watching.
In today’s fast paced world, obsessed with fame, fortune, and success, we get conditioned from our earliest of educations to become performers. To behave a certain way because that is what society expects. We care mostly about what people think or say about us, and we tweak how we act, talk and dress to make sure we present ourselves in a way that aligns with personality we wish to have.
The question is, does the world see you as the person you want to be, or the person you are?
The key diffence here is that character is a reflection of your actions and internal standards that you set for yourself regardless of outward expression. Personality is what you outwardly express in an effort to shape how the world sees you.
Character is like a mirror. Personality is a flashlight.
In the context of CrossFit, how you act in the gym, says a lot about your character.
We all like to win at workouts, but if you let winning become a dominant part of your personality over a character trait like integrity, it can get you into trouble.
When you short a movement, or cheat on your rep count, your winning personality may tell you “no one will notice, and I’ll finish first” , but be sure, everyone notices . We may care too much about our own “nice guy” personalities, or compromising our relationship with you to say something about it, but we see it. Everyone does. And in your attempt to satify your ego and keep your “I’m a winner” personality act going on the surface, you have in fact degraded your character, and proven to anyone watching, that you lack honour and integrity.
Much like trust, character traits are hard won, and easily lost.
Thus, there is much to be said about actions speaking louder than words.
In a world where fast talking salesman ram marketing down our thoats at every opportunity, most people’s bullshit-meter is fairly fine tuned. We are very good a sensing when we are being duped, sold, or scammed.
Comparatively, if you put Rx on your WOD score when you know you didn’t lock out your dips, or didn’t get your chin over the bar on every rep, all you do is let your personality and your ego get in the way of integrity, and degrade your character.
How you do anything, is how you do everything. If you’re shorting your reps in your workout, what else are you shorting in your life?
Strive for good character in the gym, and you will find these traits echo in real life.
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