Athletes are discovering that meditation really helps Focus for Sports.
Phil Mickelson meditates.
LeBron James meditates.
Russel Wilson meditates.
The list gets longer every day.
For many of you this knowledge is of no help.
Because… you have tried meditation and it just did not seem to do anything for you.
You are not alone.
A lot of my clients struggle with meditation at first.
Fortunately, there are alternatives to help you get started on the path of getting Focus Fit.
One of the most effective is identifying your Process Passions.
Never heard of Process Passions?
Let me explain.
Multiple research studies have proven that actions which fascinate you, that you are passionate about, that you love… will intensify your Focus.
Which means… when you identify actions that you are passionate about you can use those actions to strengthen and tune your Focus.
When those actions are part of the Process of training and performing for your sport, you get a 2 for 1.
Trigger Passion which increases enjoyment.
Improve Focus which improves performance.
My experience has been that this can be a great “getting started” alternative for those who struggle with meditation.
It is NOT a long-term substitute.
At some point learning to meditate is a step you will need to take if you want the best chance of achieving your goals.
It is also VERY important remember to separate Process Passions from Results Passions.
Results Passions are great for long term motivation but VERY detrimental for game day Focus and performance.
Only Process Passions are effective for improving Focus while you are performing.
How do you do take advantage of Process Passions?
Let me give you an example.
If you are a golfer…
next time you go to the driving range, bring a pen and small notebook for making a list (the act of writing is much more conducive to optimum recall than typing).
Make a list of 10 or more actions that trigger Passion because of the feel/sound of the action itself.
It is important the Passion is not related to the result of the action… just the action itself.
Be very specific.
Feel of the swing is not specific enough.
Is it the feel of the rhythm/flow of the entire swing?
Is it the feel of the speed at impact?
Is it the feel of the club striking the ball at impact?
Is it the feel of the sole of the club scuffing the grass on a chip?
Is it the feel of certainty in your mind before you hit a great shot?
Once you have a list of 10 Process Passions (more is fine!) you now have a list of actions which can help you trigger Passion and increase Focus every time you practice.
The next step is to learn how to apply this Passion and Focus when you are on the course.
Remember the Big Picture Goal is better Focus when it matters most.
The key to achieving that is building your Focus through a series of steps that increase the challenge but allow you to maintain your trust and self-belief.
Identifying and tuning your Process Passions is a terrific tool to help you get there.
As always… give me a shout if you have questions!
