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MESSAGE #1441 CHOP WOOD, CARRY WATER

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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

MESSAGE #1440 THE TIME IS NOW

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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

MESSAGE #1438 DEREK JETER GETS NERVOUS!

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Today, Derek Jeter made a rehab start in Trenton with the Yankees’ Double A affiliate, Trenton Thunder.

Guess what?

Jeter couldn’t sleep last night—he was nervous!

What does this mean? It means if a future Hall of Fame baseball player gets nervous, it’s okay if you get nervous.

The secret?

You don’t have to ACT nervous.

Enjoy my photos of the day…








MESSAGE #1437 EVEN KEEL…

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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.

MESSAGE #1436 HOW YOU CAN BE LIKE DEREK JETER

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Derek Jeter, the Captain of the New York Yankees, is all the buzz here in Trenton, New Jersey, as he is scheduled to make two rehab appearances for the Double A Trenton Thunder this weekend. And whether you like him or not, you have to admit he is a class-act.

I like that.

You know what I like even more? Jeter’s attitude. Here’s a quote of his I recently came across on Twitter…

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

You don’t have to be closing in on 3,000 hits to have the same attitude as Jeter. And you can start right now.

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1435 FOLLOW-THROUGH

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Recently, Yankee pitcher, Phil Hughes (above) was put on the Disabled List due to a “dead arm.”

Today, Hughes made a rehab start for the Trenton Thunder. He looked good to me. Here are his stats: 6.1 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts.

Injuries and adversity are part of the game, whether your game is sports, sales or school. So it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react.

In sports and life, there will always be setbacks, but it’s our reactions that determine our results.

A setback is a setup for a comeback.

MESSAGE #1434 ACTION

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Five baseball players were sitting on a bench. Three of them decided to go practice.

How many baseball players were left?

Answer: Five.

Just because three players decided to go practice, doesn’t mean they did.

Just because you say you’re going to start working out, doesn’t mean you will.

Just because you say you’re going to start eating healthy, doesn’t mean you will.

I don’t care about what you DECIDE.

I care about what you DO.

What are you going to do today?

MESSAGE #1432 I’M A SALESPERSON

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Did you know, in addition to coaching, speaking and writing, I am in sales?

I actually have the most difficult sales job—I sell people on themselves.

Let me explain…

I feel that the biggest sickness in this country is low self-esteem. Many people don’t believe in themselves, or feel that success is possible.

“I can’t beat that player.”

“I can’t start my own business.”

“I can’t get good grades.”

I was coaching a high school tennis player the other day and by the end of the lesson, he was a totally different player.

Guess what?

I didn’t work on his technique much at all.

I worked on his attitude, effort and reactions to situations. I was selling him on himself.

In my recent TEDxPrincetonLibrary talk, I spoke about the greatest joke.

The greatest joke is the one-liner we keep telling ourselves. A limiting belief.

You can only become as good as your self-image.

What’s YOUR self-image?

For a free 10-minute peak performance consultation, call 609.558.1077 or email .

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1429 EYE OF THE TIGER

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Your focus is your future.
-Oprah Winfrey

There’s something called selective focus. It happens when you buy a new car and then all of a sudden, you start seeing the same car on the road constantly. They have always been there.

How about when you meet someone new who is also at your place of work or school? Don’t you start seeing them all the time? They have always been there.

Simply put, selective focus means you get what you focus on. Success is where you look for it—it’s all around you.

Recently, I was listening to the radio while stringing a racquet and Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger from Rocky came on. I started getting motivated. Then, I started paying attention to the words.

Guess what? I found peak performance in it. Below are some of the powerful lyrics…

*Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory

Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

Chorus:
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the cream of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all in the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry

Risin’ up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive*

Ready to REALLY get motivated? Here’s the song. I dare you to NOT kick butt today after listening to it.