A big part of sports (and life) is persistence. Hanging on.
When I gave my recent talk at TEDxPrincetonLibrary, I talked about the word “hope” being an acronym—Hold On Possibilities Exist.
What do most people do when adversity strikes?
They give up.
Do you know what the great ones do?
They hang on until they catch on.
They get fascinated instead of frustrated.
They get intrigued instead of irritated.
If you stick with it when times are tough, you will most likely come out on top.
Why? Because not many people will be left.
If you do what everyone else does, you’ll get what everyone else gets.
Be great today.
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/default2.jpg300300adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-16 23:04:132011-07-16 23:04:13MESSAGE #1452 HANG ON
Of all the rings and all of the money and all of the color and display—they linger only in memory. The spirit, the will to win, and excel, these are the things that endure. The quality of any man’s life is the full measure of his commitment to excellence and to victory, regardless of what field he might be in.
—Vince Lombardi
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/default2.jpg300300adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-14 23:36:122011-07-14 23:36:12MESSAGE #1450 A MESSAGE FROM VINCE LOMBARDI
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/0286.jpg360480adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-10 19:10:422011-07-10 19:10:42MESSAGE #1446 A SPECIAL VIDEO
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
—Dalai Lama
I really like this quote.
Can you apply this to sports? Of course you can.
You can substitute “success,” “peak performance,” “mental toughness,” “personal finance,” and “academic success” with “happiness” and still make this quote true.
It is not our intentions that create our results.
It is not our thoughts that create our results.
It is our ACTIONS that create our results.
Positive actions equal positive results.
Negative actions equal negative results.
Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077
Today’s message is especially dedicated to my grandmother, Fung Shee Pan, who turned 105 years young yesterday. Happy Birthday!
My grandmother is Buddhist and I think that is part of her secret to longevity.
Today, you will learn her secret.
Some say much of sports psychology came from Eastern philosophy. Recently, I was reading a great book by former professional baseball player, Shawn Green, “The Way of Baseball.” In the book, Green talks about how meditation and Zen helped him become one of the best hitters in his era.
Green mentioned the following Zen saying:
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
It’s not about what you do, it’s all about how you do it.
Are you fully engaged when you are working, practicing, studying, eating, etc?
Most are not.
Staying present is key to peak performance, satisfaction and improvement. Unfortunately, in today’s world of televisions, iPods, iPads, XBox and iPhones, it is easy to get distracted.
Whether you want to become like Shawn Green or my 105 year old grandmother, practicing meditation can help you perform better, live fully and live longer.
Try my meditation from yesterday’s message to get you on the path (click HERE).
Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/default2.jpg300300adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-05 19:03:342011-07-05 19:03:34MESSAGE #1441 CHOP WOOD, CARRY WATER
Recently I created a type of meditation called, the “Now” Meditation, inspired after talking mental toughness with a former New York Yankee. Here it is:
1. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths (in through the nose for four seconds, out through the nose for four seconds).
2. Clear your mind from thoughts and external distractions by repeating the word, “now,” bringing you to the present moment.
3. Your mind may wander, this is normal. When this happens, just accept the thought or distraction and go back to focusing on the word, “now.”
One of the keys to sports success is relaxing under pressure. With the “Now” Meditation, you will be able to relax any time, any where, whether it is before a competition, test, or presentation. Kung-fu masters use something similar called xi sui to keep a clear mind.
With practice, this meditation will also help YOU become more focused, relaxed and able to do your best when it means the most.
Practicing the “now” meditation only takes a few minutes, so there’s no excuse not to do it, even on holidays.
Speaking of holidays…
Happy Fourth of July!
Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/default2.jpg300300adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-04 08:44:522011-07-04 08:44:52MESSAGE #1440 THE TIME IS NOW
Well, it’s official, Derek Jeter is in Trenton, so it only makes sense to talk baseball.
I just finished reading Shawn Green’s new book, “The Way of Baseball” and enjoyed it thoroughly.
One of the things that stood out most was his after at-bat routine.
Whether Green hit a home run or made an out, when he took off his batting gloves, the at-bat was over.
He let it go.
Good or bad.
In other words, you shouldn’t get too high or too low.
Once that happens, the ego is involved and you are out of the present moment and cannot reach peak performance.
In competition, you either win or you learn, and regardless of the result, you need to let it go and get ready for the next round/at-bat/shot/point/stroke.
Simple—yes.
Easy—no.
https://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/default2.jpg300300adminhttps://www.edtseng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TsengLogo211-2.pngadmin2011-07-01 23:03:222011-07-01 23:03:22MESSAGE #1437 EVEN KEEL...
