When your adult daughter comes to you, wide-eyed and full of excitement, asking if you’d like to compete in a HYROX challenge with her, what do you do?
You say yes, of course! (I mean, how hard could it be, right?)
Did I know what a HYROX challenge was?
Absolutely not. In my mind, it could have been a new smoothie craze or a dance-off. But hey, my daughter wanted me to be a part of something special with her, so I leaped in with both feet… right into the deep end!
Now, how we tackled this challenge opened my eyes to something big – there are really two ways to react when life throws you a curveball.
Last year, Taya had one mission: crush her HSC exams. And boy, did she ever. She put her heart, soul, and every spare minute into studying. Fitness and nutrition? Yeah, they got relegated to the backseat, along with her social life and probably a good night’s sleep.
But this year, Taya had room to breathe and prioritize her health. She hit the gym, started eating like she was prepping for the Olympics, and even took on this HYROX challenge as part of her quest to become stronger, fitter, and well… basically Wonder Woman.
She knew HYROX was going to be tough. But instead of curling up in a ball and binge-watching Netflix, she decided to tackle it head-on. She got HYROX-specific training, consulted the experts, and prepared like a champ.
Can you imagine if we all approached our challenges with that kind of gusto? The kind that says, “I’m going to crush this, no matter what!” Seeking help, investing time and money, and showing up fully committed. It’s inspiring (and a little intimidating) to watch your own child take life by the horns like that.
But what do most of us do instead? Well, let me tell you what I did.
When I finally Googled what HYROX was, I nearly spat out my coffee. Taya expected me to do WHAT?! My immediate reaction? Panic. Fear. A mental image of me collapsing in a heap somewhere around lap two. The fear of failure, of letting her down, and of facing a challenge so massive, it made me want to crawl under the covers and pretend I had a sudden, pressing engagement… anywhere else.
But it wasn’t just fear. Let’s be real – working out is HARD. The sweat, the sore muscles, the “why did I sign up for this?” moments. I wasn’t exactly leaping out of bed to embrace the pain.
How many of you have found yourselves in this cycle? You’re not happy with where you are, but you’re not ready to put in the work because it’s… well, it’s not fun. And so you stay stuck in the same place, spinning your wheels.
It’s self-sabotage, plain and simple. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize how you’re CHOOSING to show up. Yes, it’s a choice.
You can be like Taya – charging headfirst into the challenge, determined to conquer it. Or you can be like me, letting fear and procrastination pull you under.
Luckily, Taya kept me accountable, and we crossed both the starting line and the finish line together. Did I prepare as well as I should have? Nope. But we’re doing another HYROX in the future, and this time, I’m ready to dive in with the commitment it deserves. We’ve got a new game plan, and we’re hitting the ground running.
So whether you’re eyeing your own HYROX challenge or wrestling with your business hurdles—chunky revenue, rising costs, the works – it’s time to reflect.
Are you rising to the occasion, or are you letting the work scare you off?
Today, let’s all take a page out of Taya’s book and face the world head-on. Because the only way to discover what you’re truly capable of is to give it your all.
Janine X