Coming home from the CrossFit Semi-finals was another opportunity to transition from the extreme pressure and intensity of that event to being the man I believe I'm supposed to be in "real life" – the man I believe I'm supposed to be at home with my family.
When I do it correctly, coming home humbles me and reminds me of my priorities. Many times, I allow myself to place too much importance and meaning on competition or business, failing to make the proper adjustment and dial back my intensity or emotions that were necessary to be world-class at my job under extreme pressure. Coming home is always good for me; I realize that my wife, my children, and my granddaughter all love and need me regardless of my performance. They need the thoughtful, strong, consistent version of who I am. They need me to be the thermostat that regulates and creates an environment for them to grow and be the person they were created to be.
I'm reminded that purpose for their lives is not the same as mine. I'm reminded that my first thoughts need to be full of gratitude. Many times, I feel convicted because I spend too much time thinking about myself, my mission in life, what I want, what I need, and even what I think I deserve. Being a person who can handle high pressure consistently over time means I have to be capable of transitioning well from my performance expectations to the man I am supposed to be in "real life," and that always requires sacrificing for the people that I love. I mean, literally sacrificing my gifts, my talents, my purpose, my personal mission for their sake. Anything that steals my ability to be fully present with them, to hear their hearts, to meet their needs, and to help them grow right where they are is missing the mark based on my stated values. Coming home reminds me that being great under extreme pressure and transitioning back to being the man I want to be in "real life" must be intentional. I must develop a system and routine to facilitate that, and I must have clear values to use as the filter for my emotions and intensity in order to transition quickly and do it well.
I am reminded that if I want to succeed under pressure, be world-class, and maximize my mission in life over a career and a lifetime, success, respect, notoriety, and financial security start with my ability to live my values with my wife and my family because they are the foundation, the position of strength, I must always return to, to ground me. They are the people I must give to and sacrifice for to balance out the intensity, the emotion, and the innate selfishness that it requires to be world-class at anything. One of the keys in handling extreme pressure over time, whether it's competition or a high-stress job, is coming home and being at home and doing that well. Positive values anchor you through adversity and ground you in success.
Keep Coming Forward,
Jim Hensel
