Dig In Right Fing Now
Grit, Growth, and Ruthless Consistency
This is my current theme song, Connor McDavid’s rally cry for the Oilers: “Dig in right f’ing now.” If you haven’t heard it, picture a locker room full of sweaty, exhausted humans, staring down the biggest challenge of their lives, and McDavid growling for everyone to give just a little bit more. That’s not just sports hype; that’s the universal anthem for anyone staring down a mountain, whether it’s the Stanley Cup, a Hyrox finish line, or your first month back at CrossFit.
What Is Grit?
Let’s get nerdy for a second. Grit isn’t just a word we throw around when we’re trying to sound tough—it’s a real, research-backed trait. Psychologist Angela Duckworth defines grit as “passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement,” even when you’d rather binge-watch Schitt’s Creek for the third time. It’s sticking with your goals, even when progress is slower than dial-up internet.
Grit is what gets you back to the gym after a break, what pushes you through that “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” voice in your head, and what keeps you lacing up your runners even when you’d rather not.
Champions vs. Everyone Else: What’s the Difference?
You want to know what separates the champions from the rest? It’s not just talent or luck—it’s the willingness to keep showing up and doing the hard stuff, especially when no one’s watching.
I was watching the Hyrox World Championships last weekend, and you could see in real time: people who thought they’d won suddenly bumped down to second place because the margins are razor-thin, and the finish line is just the beginning of the next challenge. Champions expect setbacks. They plan for pain. And they dig deep anyway. It ain’t over til it’s over!
Shifting the Mindset: From “What Are You Doing?!” to “We Can Do This!”
Here’s the truth: your brain is a drama queen. It loves to scream, “You’re too old! Too slow! Too tired! Let’s just go home and watch the next episode of …. !” But you can train your inner dialogue, just like you train your muscles. Here’s how:
Name the Voice: Give your inner critic a ridiculous name (One of my client’s called hers “Negative Nelly”). When she pipes up, you can laugh and say, “Not today, girl.”
Flip the Script: Instead of “I can’t do this,” try “This is hard, but I’m doing it anyway.”
Future Self Pep Talks: My mantra? “My future self is going to be grateful for the hard work I am doing now.” It turns out that science says visualizing your future self actually increases motivation and grit.
Embrace the Suck: Remind yourself it will be hard—until it’s not. That’s literally how change happens. As I’ve told many clients over the years, and often have to remind myself: “You can do hard things.”
Getting Honest: The Hard Work of Real Change
Let’s get real—change is about as comfortable as a sports bra two sizes too small. Lasting change means getting brutally honest about what’s holding you back and being willing to do the work, even when it’s messy and slow.
This March, after a sunny two-month stay in Mexico, I decided I was done settling for “good enough.” At almost 55, with my health finally in the clear, I wanted to see what could happen if I actually stuck with an intense fitness plan. I have some big goals over the next couple of years AND I know if I stick to the path/plan I will achieve them.
The Running Saga: Slow, Steady, and Stubborn
Confession: I’ve never been a runner. I’ve tried, failed, and cursed every step. This time, I went in eyes wide open. I started at a pace that would make a sloth look speedy, downloaded the Couch to 10K app, and committed to three runs a week.
At Crossfit when we have to run I’ll often scale it but I won’t opt out. It’s hard. It’s humbling. But every time I finish, I remind myself: “It will be hard until it’s not. Just keep going.”
Three times a week I have a reminder in my phone and my runners are near the door. I just have to stick to the plan. So I put on my runners, grab my ear pods, put on my running playlist and turn on the day’s run in the app. It’s 30 min. You can do anything for half an hour. It’ll go fast. Just keep going.
Finding Your People: Community and Accountability
I bounced from my old gym, then added in some Orange Theory (shoutout to their awesome community!), and for the last month, I went back to CrossFit, where the atmosphere is both supportive and tough enough to push me forward and keep pushing me forward. This is where I’ll stay.
Community matters. When you surround yourself with people who get it—who will fist pump your sweaty, red-faced self (literally!) and cheer you on—you’re way more likely to stick with it.
Join a walking or running group. Find a space that makes you feel welcome. Ask for help.
I signed up for three races spread out over some time that increase in distance. It gives me a goal to work towards.
The Takeaway: Progress Over Perfection
This month, I’ve been proud of myself. I’m nowhere near where I want to be and that’s okay. I’m on the path, working the plan. I’ve shown up, done hard things, and gotten honest about what I want.
Grit isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being relentless. About being ruthlessly consistent. It’s about digging deep, even when you’d rather quit. It’s about knowing your future self will thank you for every sweaty, awkward, glorious step you take.
So, here’s to digging in—right fing now! Your future self is already proud.
Ready to dig deep with me? Drop your own mantra below or tell me about your latest “dig in” moment. Let’s keep showing up—one awkward, sweaty, unstoppable day at a time.