Untapped Resources

There lies, within each of us, vast amounts of untapped resources, that when discovered, can propel us to new heights.
Dr. Kenneth Copper, a neuroscientist at the U of Minnesota, has dedicated a large portion of his research helping to expose this undiscovered field of opportunity.  In his book, "The Other 90%", Dr. Cooper writes that at any given level of development, we as humans, are using approximately 10% of the capacity of our brains, leaving the other 90% dormant.
I am consistently amazed at how well we function at 10%. Equally, I often contempate what life would be like if one were to move to 15 or 20%?
In our world of constantly varied functional movements at high intensity, we are consistently pushing the envelope of brain activation.  Study after study site the enormous benefits of high intensity activity on increased brain activation.  Neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to learn new things, is challenged and activated durng every skill session in the box.  We live in a microcosom of tapping the other 90%.
With all the positive challenges we place on the brain and central nervous system with our training methods and procedures, in most cases, it is still the failure of the brain, or thought, if correctly stated, that sets our limitations.
I experienced this first hand this morning at our first training of the day.  The WOD was Elizabeth.  I challenged some of our athletes to bump their weight for the workout.  One gal, in particular, I singled out and challenged to do it Rx'd.  The moment her brain interpreted my words, "I want you doing this Rx today", I saw a visceral response that screamed out "No way, I can't do that."  Believe me, I would never have an athlete move to Rx if they were not ready.  I had seen her clean well over this weight, perfectly, in previous training sessions and I knew that she was more than ready.
I never gave her a chance to complain or argue her case to use less weight.  I simply stated what she was going to do then walked away.  I kept an eye on her from across the room as she was loading the bar.  I personally witnessed a brain that was forced into beleiving something that previously could not be comprehended.  I was struck by how her posture slowly changed, as did the look on her face.  I was watching someone tapping into the other 90%.
Of  course she completed WOD, and if don't say so, made it look effortless.  The instant she came off the rings on her last rep of dips, I saw another transformation as she looked at the clock.  Disbelief.  Which quickly turned to satisfaction, then confidence.
As I walked past her with my hand in the air waiting for my post WOD high five, I saw a smile so big  she could have swallowed a banana sideways.  There it was.  That moment when something believed to be unattainable is attained.
Driving home from the box my mind was fixated on that small series of events that went from fear, to disbelief, to courage, to satisfaction and fiinished at confidence.  This, right here.  This moment, is what makes CrossFit so great.  Here's to getting after the other 90%!