I was not
prepared for the emotional response I had the first time I watched
my daughter in competition. I had been to all of her practices. I
watched her during time trials. The first meet was just, in my
mind, more of the same. Wrong! As I watched her walk over and take
her place on deck I saw a transformation. Her entire being was
focused on the challenge of getting to the other side. She was not
smiling, she was not cutting up with the coaches, she was in a
zone. The horn sounded and she was on. I did not know she could
move that fast! Her reward, a blue ribbon. My reward, seeing the
power of focus in action Tears! And, a high five! "Mom, are
you crying?" "No" I said "You splashed water
on my face when you touched the wall." "Moooommm."
Being prepared, practicing,
mentally and physically are fuel for focusing. Knowing what you do
to support that state of focus is essential to recreating it. What
are you doing when you are in the zone, what position is your face
in, what position are your arms, your legs, your feet, your
hands?. What thoughts are in your mind, what images? What words
describe it? Have someone videotape you in action from pre-start
to finish. Have someone give you feedback of what they observed.
Once you know these things about yourself, then repeat, repeat,
and repeat. Put it all together, thoughts, feelings, actions.
Really feel it as if you were there. Find It, Feel It, Do It!
6/1997
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