I came across a fascinating study recently.
Now, like many studies, it’s not pleasant… but I believe that the lessons can be profound.
The study
In the 1950’s, Curt Richter, a professor at Johns Hopkins conducted a study. The experiment demonstrated the power of hope and resilience in overcoming difficult situations. The study involved putting a mouse in a container of water to see how long it would keep swimming.
Stay with me.
The results
When the mouse had no idea when (or if) it would be rescued, it gave up after just a few minutes. But if that same mouse had been rescued in the past — if it had learned that there was an end point — it would keep swimming. Not just for a little longer, but sometimes for twenty hours or more.
The difference wasn’t fitness or skill. It was hope, grounded in certainty. The mouse knew rescue was coming, and that knowledge gave it the strength to keep going. The result isn’t a huge surprise, but the difference between a few minutes and up to 24 hours is enormous.
When I think about this more, I think about those times in an AMRAP or a for time workout, and you’re having serious doubts on whether you can make it through.
But then you hear a coach say, “Last round!” or “One minute to go!” and suddenly, something shifts. You dig in. You find another gear. You push harder. And you finish stronger than you thought possible.
It’s not that your body suddenly got fitter in those moments — it’s that your mind saw the finish line…. Ala safety.
We often program and brief in this way. 10-1 rep schemes, buy in and buy out workouts, and having targets to hit in AMRAPs. We want you to see the path ahead. Not to make things easier, but to give you the mental fuel to keep going when it gets tough.
The more I’ve thought about this study, the more I’ve thought about how it relates to challenges in regular life. Oftentimes, when we’re in a rut, we feel like it’s forever, permanent, and there’s no way out. There’s always the temptation to give up.
What you cannot perceive is how far you’ve come, and how close you are to the finish line. And, if you hold onto just a little more hope, there really is a better place over the hill.
How to Build Perseverance in CrossFit and Life
- Set clear benchmarks before you start
Break the task into smaller goals so you can see progress along the way — rounds, reps, or sections of work. - Use a timer for each stage of work
Coach Trent once gave me the best and simplest productivity tip. Set your timer for 20 minutes, and do nothing but your task. Then, get up and do it again.
- Track your progress as you go
Cross off sets, write down rounds, or tick off steps. Each tick gives a small burst of momentum.
- Count down, not up
In your head or on the whiteboard, focus on what’s left rather than what you’ve done — it keeps the finish line front of mind.
- Look beyond the moment
Remember why you started — the bigger goal gives meaning to the discomfort right now.
Do you have any tricks and tips for navigating challenges and instilling hope?
Reply to [email protected] – I’d love to hear them.
Let’s have a great week.
Coach Steve