In the Zone

A friend of mine recently passed on a New York Times article that talked about the importance of relaxation for professional athletes. The article was not talking about relaxation before a competition; it talked about the importance of it during a competition. One of the key examples was Michael Phelps at this year’s Olympics. No one has ever seen a swimmer so relaxed in the water. I also remember watching Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the Olympics. I remember being amazed by how nonchalant he looked when he ran. His face looked as if he was taking a relaxed stroll in a park, yet his speed was mind blowing. One of the best ways to describe this feeling of relaxation for athletes is that they are simply in the zone. It is when your mind and body are in sync. To relax does not mean to slow down, it means to allow your body to do what it wants to do and for your head to get out of the way.

I thought about this in my own life. How when I am really stressed or when I want to be successful at something but I am finding it really difficult, that is when I am getting in my own way. It is time to get “in the zone”. So, how does one get into this state of mind? You block out all negative and self defeating thoughts and you focus on the goal that you want to achieve. And you take it a step further than that in that you visualize the end goal in your mind. That achieving thought should be the only thing that enters your mind. Any other thoughts you have will only slow you down.

Where in your life do you need to get out of your own way and get into the zone?

“The only one who can beat me is me.”
-Michael Johnson – Olympic Gold Medalist

If you’d like to read the full article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/health/nutrition/02best.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Inspired by Michael Phelps

While I was glued to my tv the past few weeks watching the Olympics, I heard one of the announcers talk about Michael Phelps and his routine before he came out to swim a race. They said that before every race he writes down the time that he wants to swim on a piece of paper and folds it up. He doesn’t show it to anyone but puts it down on paper so he knows what he’s working towards.

I don’t know what the times were that he wrote down but I have a feeling that he achieved almost every one of them. I thought this provided great inspiration for being really clear on what you want. How can you acheive what you want if you aren’t clear on what that really is? So, I ask you, what is it that you really want to acheive?

“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.”
- Michael Phelps