Why do most non-crossfitter look at us like we're jerks?
The short answer...nobody likes a zealot.
Zealot-a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
Most folks believe what they believe and, unless they are seeking answers, its usually offensive to them to be given a recipe that they didn't ask for. "You should really come to my CF gym...."
It reminds me of my life before I came to my spiritual beliefs. When folks would come knocking on the door to tell me about Jesus, it was at best a nuisance, at worst irritating. ("Get these Jesus freaks out of here!!")
I know a lot of folks that reject faith entirely because of their encounters with a zealot early in life. You hear stories of folks that were "beaten over the head with religion" at a young age and grew to disdain it for a long long time, if not forever.
So what is the answer in getting folks to share our love of Crossfit?
I think the answer is generally the same across the board when it comes to sharing our faith in anything.
1. Work off of the principle of love and not fear. (You're going to hell only works for so long and doesn't do much to create a love relationship with God.) For example, mocking or condemning someone's exercise program is a poor choice vs. explaining that they might really enjoy coming to CF with you as your guest.
2. Be a beacon and an example without belaboring the point. There's a reason people make the joke: How do you know someone does CF? Because its all they ever talk about. Strive for balance in your life and conversations or people are going to label you in the "fanatical zealot" camp.
3. Keep in mind that many people have issues with the thing you love that have nothing to do with you or what you love. Folks that struggle with self acceptance and feeling good enough are often going to be reluctant to be vulnerable and try something new when it comes to exercise. Just like folks with a skewed concept of God and faith will be very defensive and closed to stepping out of their insulated world view to look into different spiritual beliefs. Tread lightly.
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ReplyDeleteGreat article. I personally am not religious, but I can respect the religious zealots in that they are at least preaching about Eternal Life. As much as I am into CrossFit, I realize that, at the end of the day, it's just "working out"! You won't be eternally damned if you do bicep curls in the squat rack (although you get to the Pearly Gates, you might get a 50 burpee penalty haha)
ReplyDeletenice!!
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