Practice…
Can you imagine life without it?
I mean really…if everything we did was without practice, can you just imagine how dismal that would be?
Practice gives us a chance to get better and better at what we choose to excel in.
Young people often look at practice as drudgery. They moan and groan about doing homework – practice for test-taking and about doing chores – practice for adulthood. It is a sure sign of maturity when we come to enjoy practice sessions and do them at our highest and best.
Dr. Therman Evans says this about practice: “Practice makes perfect if it’s perfect practice. Otherwise, it could make you worse.” Practice is a wonderful opportunity to get things better and right.
We learn and master our craft when we practice and if it’s a public performance, we reduce anxiety with several practice sessions under our belt before a major event. But if what you’re practicing and how you’re practicing is not at your best, you can expect no better results. One great coach, Glenn Scobey “Pop” Warner, once said “you play the way you practice.”
I challenge you to search out opportunities to practice what you do or what you have planned, today. Before you get to thinking “but I don’t have time for practice today,” let me add this…
The wonderful thing is this; you are able to practice mentally with your fabulous imagination and it counts! Research is clear on this point and has been for some time.
In his book, “pursuit of Excellence”, Dr Terry Orlick, one of Canada’s leading experts in the area of sport psychology states:
“Imagining in your mind and body the feeling of executing the moves that you need to be successful can help you accomplish those moves in the real world. Positive imagery can also enhance your confidence because you are repeating performance skills in your mind and body with focus and precision, exactly the way you would like to do them”
The research shows that when we practice mentally and then add a little actual practice we reach a level of proficiency that equals much longer periods of physical practice without mental practice!
So use this information to your advantage! Begin today with imagination sessions where you practice – not just a visualization of success, but more that; practice the actual process, the steps involved in accomplishing your goal.
Peak performers in every field – especially sports, entertainment, medicine and even inventors (the process of invention is significantly centered in imagination!) have used these skills for centuries.
Try these seven simple ‘tried and true’ steps for powerful results:
- Choose a goal – anything in your life you are trying to improve or change
- Sit comfortably with eyes closed
- Speak out loud a statement of intention about this goal (example: I intend to increase my powerful practice time to 15 minutes per day for the next 21 days)
- Imagine the results you seek…what would you like to see happen in your life? (The key here is to IMAGINE without fear, limitation, doubt or anxiety…if there is no possibility of failure, what will result with your goal and intention?)
- Now imagine the process and steps you would take to get to those results…see every detail specifically and clearly. Focus on the actions you would take and fill in all the blanks. You are the director, the editor and the actor in the theater of your mind.
- Stay with this imagination session for at least 5 minutes, the first time
- Repeat this exercise, reviewing the same scene, adding time, getting more and more specific every day for 21 days.
This is guaranteed to work IF you truly believe what you intend to achieve.
Golfing great Bobby Jones once said, “golf is played on a five-inch course, the distance between your ears.”
The power to create the life you seek is all yours.
Wishing you an abundance of success…peace and joy,
♥~
P.S. A great opportunity to practice is available to you…The 21-Day Detox Challenge ~ Spirit, Mind & Body is being offered again from December 1st to the 31st.
Look for a message with sign-up information coming soon. It’s Free! 🙂
