Future Performance Training
Have you ever been in the middle of a task and lost all track of time? Not only that, but you know that your thoughts, actions, and emotions are in tune with each other as you go about the task. You feel as if you are in slow motion, yet you are working effectively, even speedily, and without effort. You’re in what athletes call the zone and it’s a wonderful state to be in.
You are totally absorbed in what you’re doing and your awareness of everything else going on around you seems heightened at the same time. Your conscious mind is utterly absorbed in the task at hand, and your unconscious mind is free to play along, providing all sorts of unexpected insights and knowledge. Your inner critic is dozing and your inner coach is proudly cheering you on from the sidelines! At these moments you feel invincible and you get a sense of how powerful and talented you really are. This kind of relaxed focus helps you perform better, make better decisions, and enjoy your life more.
How can you harness a relaxed focus in your life?
Start by thinking of the times when you’ve experienced a relaxed focus. Be specific. What sort of things were you doing? Was it work, or play? What were the feelings and sensations that went with the experiences? If you think about these experiences, can you recall those feelings and sensations? If so, you already have a great tool for changing your state of mind.
You may be able to recreate this feeling of relaxed focus, or being in the zone, during the following activities:
- Driving or cycling
- Running or jogging
- A special hobby you are passionate about
- Reading
- Meditation and contemplation
- Yoga, Pilates, t’ai chi, and many other mind/body practices
- A long walk outdoors
If recapturing those feelings and sensations doesn’t come easily to you, look for ways to recreate the experiences that created them in the first place. As you get more practice at recalling your resourceful states, you find you can enter into relaxed focus at will, instantly allowing you to notice what’s going on with alertness and a sense of calm.