349: Vomit-Inducing Fears (Jesse's CrossFit Competition)

Join Jesse and me this week as we talk about something that scared Jesse: doing his first CrossFit competition! Hear about how, a few months before the competition, he told me that he wanted to compete, and while I could tell that he truly wanted to do it, I could also tell just how much fear was standing in his way. He had movements that he wasn’t sure he could do, weights that he had never lifted, and the very real possibility of doing all of this in front of a bunch of people. Honestly, I wasn’t convinced that he was actually going to make it to competition day.

However, he signed up, he trained, and he prepared, and then, six months later, we found ourselves watching him walk into that competition!

Listen in as we talk about what it was like in the weeks leading up to it, including that very specific, stomach-churning kind of fear that makes you wonder, “Why did I sign up for this?” Jesse shares how his coach helped him reframe those jitters as his body preparing to do something difficult and how he learned to stop worrying about what everyone else was doing and simply run his own race.

We then get into the actual competition - the three workouts, the 53-pound kettlebells, the clean and jerks, the moments when Jesse surprised himself, and the incredible encouragement that he received from the other competitors. (One workout in particular became a moment I don’t think any of us will forget!)

One of the most meaningful parts for me was definitely watching our kids watch their dad do something that scared him. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes the lessons our children remember most are the ones we teach simply by being willing to try something hard. We also discuss what Jesse learned from the experience, why he’s already thinking about doing more competitions, and why putting something on the calendar can be such a powerful way to push yourself forward.

If there’s something you’ve been afraid to try, we really hope that this episode reminds you that you don’t have to feel fearless to take the first step! We hope that you enjoy this episode, and, as always, please reach out to us with your thoughts and questions! Maybe you have your own story to share that involves overcoming fear?

In This Episode

[0:36] - Jesse and I are supporting a first-time foster parent by providing regular respite childcare for her baby girl.

[3:20] - I encourage people unable to foster to support foster families with practical, ongoing help.

[5:14] - We are talking today about Jesse’s recent CrossFit competition!

[7:37] - Jesse reflects on how his coach encouraged him to compete, giving him a goal to drive greater consistency and improvement.

[10:14] - We discuss how I initially didn’t think that Jesse would follow through on the competition because of how afraid that he was.