I wind up, rock back on my heels, swinging my hands forward--or back? I launch myself forward, trying to remember to get height and distance. I land heavily, trying to wind myself up for the next jump, unsure of where my hands and arms are, trying not to take too long to make my next move.

I finish the triple jump, and all I can feel is frustrated. I bite back a snarky reply as my coach gives some pointers, and find myself muttering a few fixed mindset lamentations--I'm not good at this, I just can't figure it out.

It's easy to talk about how important it is to be growth minded, to look at challenges as opportunities, to see mistakes and failures as lessons, guides that show us how to get better.

Actually living it is a lot harder.

I believe in the growth minded perspective. I try to adopt the thinking and language it entails. Most of the time, I succeed. It's easy to do when things are easy.

When things get hard, though, your script leaves you. Those pretty thoughts you lovingly arrange in your head as you drift peacefully along in life seem to scatter to the wind, and frustration, anger, embarrassment--swift and powerful--rise up in their place. What's more--you catch yourself in this place, knowing that you know better, and become more frustrated.

It's possible to know something intellectually while at the same time feeling very differently. That in itself is a frustrating experience.

Changing your mindset isn't simply a switch you flip. Just like fixing crappy squat technique doesn't magically happen once you know what good technique looks like, knowing and believing in a growth mindset doesn't mean you'll automatically start loving challenges and feel excited to receive honest feedback.

Good form, both mental and physical, takes reps.

- Joy Sprimont

8/9/17

• Front rack reverse lunge - 4x6/leg

• In 3 mins:

• 200m run

• AMRAP thrusters (95/65)

• Rest 2 mins

• In 3 mins:

• 200m run

• AMRAP pull-ups