Centering For Training 101

There are many things to help you focus but I will name a few that really work for me and I think work in general.

1. Focus on breathing: There is a covenant I've followed for awhile that helps to keep me focused. One of it's lines is, "My life and death are breathing". This reminds me of the strange relationship we have with breathing. The same air that enables life on earth is also the air we are mortally dependent on. This air that gives us life also ages us. In this modern age we breathe toxic air and have disturbed breathing patterns from stress. But breathing is one of the few involuntary muscle functions that we can directly control. So work on your relationship with breathing and see improvement with your flow. Practice meditative breathing. Practice power breathing. Get some fresh air. When in doubt always look to breathing for an opportunity to progress.

2. Stop thinking: People used to tell me, "you think too much", and I would think, "that's why you're stupid and I'm smart. How could anyone possibly think too much?". Now that I'm older I understand. My thinking was imbalanced with my actions creating analysis paralysis at best and a deep seated fear of success at worst. The brain is an extremely powerful organ that demands a lot of energy. So don't waste that energy by using your brain inefficiently. Thinking also lends itself to doubt and that negative spiral of thoughts ("this is a little uncomfortable, this hurts, I rather be doing something lazy, why am I doing this, I can't wait for this to be over, I'm no good at this, I quit...").

One of my favorite books is The Book Of Five Rings written in 1643 by a masterless samurai named Miyamoto Musashi. This book consists of 5 scrolls relating to elements. The last scroll is the scroll of emptiness which pertains to this issue of not "thinking" and it reminds me that my essence is in being and doing, not in thinking. One of my favorite lines in this scroll is, "In emptiness there is good but no evil. Wisdom exists, logic exists, the Way exists, mind is empty". A mantra I use for this is, "no mind".

3. Clarity of purpose: One thing I think I've always had going for me is clarity of purpose. As a child I had dreams that may have changed as I got older, but I was lucky enough to be born into love and vision as supposed to the despair all too many children face. This made me feel destined for greatness and I didn't know any better. In adolescence I found myself in a few tough spots but again I would credit clarity of purpose for helping me make the right decisions. In my worst situations I felt a clear obligation to help and respect myself, be there for my family and be there for earth and it's starving children. Later I came to read Mental Training For Skydiving And Life and I realized my vision could be called clarity of purpose. The book has a whole chapter on the subject but basically I have a clear vision of who I am, what I want and what I need to do that keeps me focused. I can't imagine having motivation without clarity of purpose. You must see to be?... Now that I am older I understand the process better and I am able to chart a course of purpose with goal milestones clearly in sight.

4. Meditation/Visualization: Life is meditation and visualizations. Where you are (choose to be) spiritually and what you are able (choose) to see is what you project back to the universe. Although life is already one big meditation and vision, controlled meditations and visualizing is a great way to prepare for and breed success. When I am able to be still I meditate looking for deeper spirituality and peace. I focus on empty space or light. Sometimes I will see energy in the form of color or electricity. I work on my awareness through my senses and their combined efficiency. I focus on life and love drawing power from my deeper self, earth and the universe. Sometimes I am unable to be still and negative or distracting thoughts enter my consciousness or I may have a challenge ahead of me occupying my thoughts. At this point I use visualizations to bring out my peak performance. I thoroughly rehearse what I plan on doing in my head, let's say for a competition or upcoming big workout. I visualize enjoying the day before the event. I see myself being content and calm. Eating good meals, not being anxious, getting good sleep and doing whatever else is necessary to prep. I visualize getting good rest, enjoying my tea and joint mobility in the morning, eating a good breakfast. I visualize getting to the event and warming up. I imagine the smells, sounds, distractions and other stimulants. I imagine being communicative and respectful of judges and respectful but fearless in the face of an opponent. I visualize my game-plan and the actions I intend to perform. I picture the scenario in full color and black and white. I play it in my head backwards. I play it fast-forwarding and in slow motion. This whole time I am practicing breathing and calming my heart. By the time the real scenario arrives I am mentally prepared and not caught off guard. It's easy to focus because I have rehearsed the script and I know the ending works in my favor.

5. Nothing beats preparation: One of my original kettlebell instructors and one of the best in the world is Mike Mahler. I remember discussing an upcoming kettlebell test with him. I don't remember exactly what I was saying but I suppose it had something to do with being optimistic about my attempt at the test but doubting the outcome because the goal was beyond my prior accomplishments. I do remember his response of, "nothing beats preparation". Similar to the Boy Scouts adage of, "always be prepared". This means all of the will power, good karma and good intentions in the world don't make up for a lack of preparation. Conversely, you could be a horrible person with horrible karma who conquers the task before you simply because you're thoroughly prepared for, or previously successful in, the realm before you. Preparing is one of if not the main goal of training. So when facing a task and my thoughts start to wander, creating room for doubt, I remember that the task before me isn't really daunting considering my preparation. The nature of my training is to breed success through a graduated progression of successes conditioning me to expect victory despite the immediate difficulty I face. I enjoy pushing through walls and conquering difficult obstacles because I know once the task is complete I'll be prepared for something even more daunting and exciting down the line.

Deserving of their own discussion I can also fit good sleep and diet into the aspects of preparation. Don't expect to be successful or focused eating pounds of sugar, simple carbs, nutritionally bankrupt over processed foods while only getting a few hours of sleep. We all may have had some miracle days where we were able to take the kids to school, get a workout in and negotiate a peace treaty while running on fumes but no one can pull that off consistently. And just imagine what you could have done with better fuel! Don't be surprised if you fix your diet and sleep and you're able to focus without trying.

6. Be aware: Some skills require thorough thinking. Some skills require smooth finesse. Some skills require raw power or a primitive intensity. This topic is discussed in another book I highly recommend, Stronger Minds, Stronger Bodies. Some skills require specific extremes of focus or intensity. Most skills require a balance of smooth focus and intensity. Basically, if you're playing chess, tone down the grunting and try to think a few moves ahead. If you're trying to lift the heaviest weight you've never lifted, take off the mental brakes and lift the weight because other people are waiting to use the bar and that weight's not going to lift itself. How do you know the type of arousal level's necessary for the task at hand? Awareness. Don't dwell on the physics of what you're doing. Just listen to what your body and senses are telling you and make the necessary subtle adjustments.

This is my list of 6 basics to help you focus. I could add plenty to this list. There are 100s of ways to get to the same place. Hopefully where our motives take us is a positive destination. Good thing we all have choices. I'm encouraged by what I see from good choices and I'm encouraged by the lessons of not so good choices. Just focus on the basics and try not to learn things the hard way.

Never quit. Quit is a four letter word. Quitters never win, winners never quit...

I hope this was helpful. Throw me some more questions.

Peace.
-Greg