MESSAGE #797 ARE YOU NEEDY??

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“The less we need, the richer we can be.”
-a Zen master

I know tennis players who always want the latest tennis gear.

I know business professionals who always want the latest cell phone.

I know people who always want to wear the coolest outfit.

Is money important?

Yes and no.

Obviously we need money to survive, but it’s not everything.

If I put $10,000 in cash in front of my dog, she would sniff it and then go look for some crumbs on the floor.

Lama Surya Das said, “The value of anything is always the value we vest in it.”

$10,000 cash and crumbs on the floor are both neutral. Their value, or lack of it depends on our desires and importance we place on them.

The problem occurs when we think we need more than we actually do. We accumulate things like we’re going to live forever, or that “things” will be our source of happiness.

A good friend asked me yesterday what I wanted for my birthday this year and I said, “Nothing. You can donate to a charity for me.”

I have everything I need.

I still have goals and dreams, but every day I try to keep things in perspective. I have gratitude for all of the big and little things I have in my life.

Should the miserable millionaire strive to be a miserable billionaire?

Perhaps we should focus more on the things that have no monetary value.

Appreciating nature.
Our family/friends/pets.
Helping others.
Our health.

You cannot put a monetary value on those things.

Someone once said, “Contentment is true wealth. Success will not be found through the gratification of desire, but in the end of desire – which is contentment. Wealthy is he who enjoys what he has.”

In sports, athletes, coaches and parents put a large emphasis on the results, or winning. That’s not success.

Success is giving your all. Success is having fun. And success is striving for constant improvement.

Character goes a long way. Do the right thing. Everyone says nice guys finish last.

Nice guys are winners before the race even begins.

We all know the name Johnny Appleseed, right? But what did he do?

Johnny Appleseed travelled throughout the Midwest in the early nineteenth century sowing apple seeds. He tended to them, with the knowing that they would someday produce apples, even if he wasn’t around to see them.

He didn’t care about getting a bigger house or wearing the coolest outfit. He was making a difference.

What are you doing today that will make a difference tomorrow?



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #796 FUTURE COACH?

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WATCH 4-YEAR OLD RIZZO PERFORM HERB BROOKS’ PRE-GAME PEP TALK BEFORE THE FAMOUS 1980 “MIRACLE” GAME AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI

MESSAGE #795 I KNOW YOU…

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“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.”
-FERRIS BUELLER

I know something about you.

I know that many times you focus on either the past or the future.

You focus on what you did wrong in the past or what you don’t want to happen in the future.

The key to mental toughness in sports is to stay in the present moment. That’s called the zone, flow, or the ideal performance state.

I remember working with a young, up-and-coming player that had all the talent in the world, but he was losing often in competition.

He was such a perfectionist and was focused mainly on results.

“I haven’t won a match in weeks!”

“All I keep thinking about is what people are going to think if I lose.”

So I said to him, “Let’s try a little experiment. For the next two tournaments, just focus on your strategy/placement, energy level, and having fun.”

Nothing else.

It worked. He started getting better results and even said, “Hey, this is fun!”

The beauty of focusing on the present moment is that not only are you enjoying the process, but it also makes it impossible to think about negative thoughts. That’s peak performance.

Be fully present today.

Turn off your cell phone during lunch.

Give your full attention during class.

Really listen to that speaker during your meeting.

Actually taste your food.

Appreciate nature.

Be kind.

I tell my students to play every point like it’s the only point they are going to play that day. If you’re going to play the game, play all out.

Life is the same way.


Thanks for reading.



MESSAGE #794 AN INCREDIBLE STORY…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Kate Miller, of Food Network.

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephant’s foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen-aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn’t the same elephant.



Lessons:
1. Don’t push your luck.
2. Use your brain.
3. Sometimes you learn the hard way.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #793 DON’T TRY TO BE PERFECT…

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“They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.”
-WINSTON CHURCHILL

Are you a perfectionist?

Do you wait for perfect conditions to take action?

Nobody is perfect.

Does Roger Federer hit a winner on every shot?

Of course not, so if Federer can’t be perfect, then neither can we.

You can strive for perfection, but don’t expect to be perfect. If you have this mindset, you may run into excellence, according to Vince Lombardi.

But if you’re waiting for perfect conditions, stop waiting and start doing.

Conditions will never be perfect.

There is no perfect time to start that company.

There is no perfect time go on that diet.

There is no perfect time to take up the guitar.

All you have to remember is this…

The quickest way to hit a target is to start firing and then make adjustments.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #792 THE TRUTH…

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“You’re never as good as you think you are, and you’re never as bad as they say you are.”
-author unknown

MESSAGE #791 UGANDA IS JUST LIKE THE UNITED STATES…

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“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
-WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Last night I attended “BID TO BUILD UGANDA,” a silent auction and WARDANCE film showing in Princeton, organized by Yoga for Unity, and its founder, Kristen Boccumini. Boccumini has already raised $20,000 for this cause and plans on going to Uganda in February to help out.

In Uganda, there has been a civil war going on for 20 years.

“They live in conditions unimaginable to us always living in fear. Rebels come in the night and steal the children away, forcing boys to join and kill even their own family members while the girls are forced into sex slavery.”

The film, WARDANCE told us about five year old boys raising their three year old sisters. And babies born with HIV and dying soon after.

But luckily the children have a distraction – music and dance.

This moving film shows one tribe’s quest to become the best performers in all of Uganda.

Their instructors kept talking about “mood” and the importance of smiling. When they are playing music and dancing, all of their troubles vanish. Life is good.

They worked hard. “We are going to show them that we are giants.”

Remember David and Goliath?

The competition consisted of eight categories and they, the Potango tribe, ended up winning the Traditional Dance category. They were the first ones to ever bring home a trophy.

Nobody expected them to win, but they worked hard and believed in themselves.

“Even though we live in the war zone, we can still do great things in life.”

You may not live in the war zone, but you may have some adversity in your life. You may face challenges. The right attitude will determine what type of results you get.

Bob Ryland lived through segregation. He thought, “It is what it is. You can’t do anything about it.” But Ryland is one of the most optimistic people I know.

You should have seen the smiles on the children of Uganda when they were singing and dancing.

If Bob Ryland and the children of Uganda can smile in adverse situations, I think we have it pretty good. I know I will never complain again.

Don’t count the days, make the days count.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #790 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRET…

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“I don’t want to find myself in a nursing home someday, thinking that all I did was play it safe.”
-CHARLIE EITEL

I have dedicated myself to researching how the great ones became great.

One reason is because they take risks.

Most athletes like to stay in their comfort zones. For example, I see too many doubles players stay back at the baseline because they are more comfortable. But the truth is, they will win more points at the net, even if they don’t want to be there. They think that if they come in, they will either get passed or lobbed.

They’re worried about something that hasn’t even happened yet!
This happens in the workforce too. Many people don’t want to start their own business for fear of failure.

Many musicians don’t like to play in front of audiences for fear of a poor performance.

The winners take risks because their mindset is that they can get back whatever they lose.

It’s not about the results anyway. The great ones know that it’s all about learning, improving and having fun.

How can you learn and improve if you don’t takes risks?

MESSAGE #789 READ THIS MESSAGE UPSIDE-DOWN…

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˙ƃuıpɐǝɹ ɹoɟ sʞuɐɥʇ
¿ʎɐpoʇ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp op oʇ ƃuıoƃ noʎ ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥʍ
˙ƃuıʇʇǝƃ sı ǝslǝ ǝuoʎɹǝʌǝ ʇɐɥʍ ʇǝƃ oʇ ƃuıoƃ ǝɹ,noʎ ‘ƃuıop sı ǝslǝ ǝuoɹǝʌǝ ʇɐɥʍ op noʎ ɟı ˙pʍoɹɔ ǝɥʇ ɯoɹɟ ʇno ƃuıpuɐʇs – ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ƃuıop sı lnɟssǝɔɔns ƃuıǝq oʇ sʎǝʞ ǝɥʇ ɟo ǝuo

MESSAGE #788 NOT NECESSARY…

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“A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.”
-SENECA

Have you ever gotten so worried and stressed out about something and then it never actually happened?

We, as humans, tend to worry about the past and the future, but the past is already behind us and the future has yet to come.

The only thing we have control over is our present.

What we do on a daily basis creates our destiny.

What are you doing every day? Are you reacting to life, or are you creating your life?

What causes you pleasure? What causes you pain?

Things have to be important enough to you in order for you to take action.

Is making money important to you?
Is helping others important to you?
Is being the best athlete important to you?

Think about who you want to be in the future, and then stay in the present and make it happen.

Make a list. Check it twice. And get to work.


Thanks for reading.