I don’t think of myself as someone who possesses patience. I practice instant gratification. It’s worked for me generally speaking, but I strive to be more patient and to embrace the struggle. To play the long game has many advantages and there are just some things that can’t be rushed: like strength. As crossfitters, we all strive to be stronger, but our bodies can only adapt so fast. We don’t just go to 3 classes a week and suddenly squat 500lbs. That kind of strength is hard-won. I’m not suggesting we all strive to squat 500lbs, but I do think we all should put in the time and effort to grow stronger. That means you need a commitment. You need a habit. You need motivation. You need to do a lot of short-term efforts that will lead to long-term gains.
Like I said, I practice instant gratification and when I look at myself, I can say “I wish I’d been more patient. I wish I had been more diligent. I wish I hadn’t sacrificed the long-term gain for the short-term satisfaction.” Like someone that wished they had invested in the market when it was low. But there’s an old Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” I can’t change the past. I can only make a better choice right now to go and lift some weights, to do some pull-ups and to get my heartrate up. The second best time to invest your your strength is right now.