Scott Dixon was the winner of the 2008 Indy 500. His winnings totaled $2,988,065. Vitor Meira finished in second place and received $1,273,215. The difference in prize money between 1st and 2nd place was a whopping $1,714,850. While Scott Dixon’s effort and focus was probably just a fraction stronger than that of Vitor Meira’s, his reward was over double that of his closest competitor.
Tiger Woods is probably the greatest golfer the sport has ever known. As such, his net worth is probably about 4 times that of any other golfer. He does one thing really, really well and is rewarded handsomely for his effort.
How much greater is his effort? I can’t say for sure but I would imagine it’s just a little. In fact, the average margin of victory for the last 25 years in all major golf tournaments combined was less than 3 strokes.

Perhaps no event in the world better demonstrates maximum effort and commitment than the Olympics. The 2008 Summer Olympics was a multi-sport event show casing the very best athletes in the world. These people understand what it takes to pursue a goal with total conviction. How much extra effort does it take to win a gold medal? Surprisingly, just a little, in some instances.
You can’t mention the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics without thinking of Michael Phelps. Michael brought home eight gold medals, shattering Mark Spitz’ long-standing record of seven gold medals, previously the most gold medals ever won in a single Olympics.

Michael’s eight medals consisted of 5 individual medals and three team medals. In reviewing his individual performances, this is what I found:

Men’s 400m Individual Medley – Final – Sunday, August 10, 2008

Michael Phelps (USA) 4:03:84 World Record
Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) 4:06:16 Difference +2.32

Men’s 200m Freestyle – Final – Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Michael Phelps (USA) 1:42:96 World Record
Taehwan Park (Korea) 1:44:85 Difference +1.89

Men’s 200m Butterfly – Final – Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Michael Phelps (USA) 1:52:03 World Record
Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) 1:52:70 Difference +0.67

Men’s 200m Individual Medley – Final – Friday, August 15, 2008

Michael Phelps (USA) 1:54:23 World Record
Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) 1:56:52 Difference +2.29

Men’s 100m Butterfly – Final – Saturday, August 16, 2008

Michael Phelps (USA) 50.58 Olympic Record
Milorad Cavic (Serbia) 50.59 Difference +0.01

Michael beat Milorad Cavic of Serbia in the Men’s 100m Butterfly by the narrowest of margins, a mere 0.01 seconds! That’s one hundredth of a second, or the speed at which a hummingbird flaps its wings. The average blink of a human eye is 0.10 or one tenth of a second. Michael’s victory in this race was by a margin that was ten times faster than the average blink of a human eye!

The total margin of victory in all five of his individual medal races was 7.18 seconds or an average of 1.436 seconds. That’s pretty darn quick. One Mississippi, two Mississ… Times up! See what I mean?

That 1.436 second average is the difference between silver and gold. It’s the difference between perhaps a few endorsements and those equaling around $40 million a year.

Develop the habit of applying that consistent extra effort, vision, and focus to move you closer to your dreams. But don’t stop there, use a little extra effort in all you do. Once it becomes a habit, it will be second nature. Imagine if your attitude, your focus, your kindness, your belief, and your perseverance were all just a little better. What would that be worth? Priceless.

Everyone knows that worrying doesn’t accomplish a thing and yet most of us do it from time to time. Some people do it so well that if it was an Olympic event they could easily be a gold medal contender.

So why do you do it and how can you stop?

The reason you worry is that you fear that something is going to happen that you don’t want to happen. You think that by somehow worrying about it you are doing something to prevent it. What you are actually doing is focusing on what you don’t want rather than what you do want to happen. Typically, people worry when they have no control over the outcome of something. If you have control and are actually able to take action to prevent this real or imagined event from occurring, then do so.

For instance, if you’re a student and you’re worried that you won’t pass an upcoming exam then what should you do? Stop worrying and spend more time studying and preparing. Once you’ve done everything in your power to ensure the desired outcome there is nothing more that needs to be done. Even if you didn’t prepare as well as you should have, worry and fear will not help the situation. Being relaxed and confident about the outcome will make it easier to focus your mind’s energy on doing your best and achieving the desired results on the day of the exam.

If you find that you are worrying about someone else because of his or her actions, then share your concerns with them. If there is something you can do to help, that’s fine if you have the time, energy, and desire to do so as long as they want help. If the person is engaging in harmful actions and has no desire to stop, then there may be a life lesson they need to learn. You cannot learn it for them; it’s something they must experience for themselves.

When you worry, all you’re really doing is harming yourself by directing energy towards the problem instead of the solution. If you’re worrying about someone’s health the best thing you can do is to take action by preventing them from worrying. Try doing this with humor. In the book The Secret, there were stories of two people who used laughter to heal themselves. After being diagnosed with breast cancer Cathy Goodman immediately began to believe that she had been healed and everyday went around saying, "Thank you for my healing". Rather than feel sad, she made a conscious decision to surround herself with laughter. She allowed herself to think only positive thoughts as she was determined to assist her body in it’s own healing. She watched funny movies every night and directed her focus on being healthy. Three months later she was cancer free. A man named Norman Cousins inspired her. Norman had been diagnosed with an incurable disease and so for three months all he did was watch funny movies. As he laughed, he released negativity and he released the disease. Three months later, he was disease free. His doctors thought his recovery was a miracle.

Three words you should immediately remove from your vocabulary are fear, worry, and can’t. Worry is fear-based thinking. As Franklin D. Roosevelt so astutely remarked, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." The man knew what he was talking about. So quit worrying. You can do it and laughter really is the best medicine.

Living Large is such a great concept.  The following article was written by Bradley Marks and I wanted to share it here at The Metamorphosis Cafe.  I hope you enjoy it.

When we think of those who are living life large, our mind usually turns to the highly paid entertainers and actors who dominate the media. We’re constantly amazed at their outlandish lifestyles and their ability to engage in off-the-wall behaviors. They live in ostentatious homes. They consume outlandish quantities of drugs and alcohol. They move from one sordid affair to the other faster than most of us were ever able to set up a single date. But that’s not really living large–that’s just living loud.

Living large is about finding your space in the world and luxuriating in it as you move forward with additional self improvement. It’s a matter of finding a way to be yourself and to enjoy everything you do. You’re really living when you’re spending your time and energy on the things that have meaning to you.

Your version of that beautiful future might involve a Ferrari and beach front property. It could include a supermodel sidekick. It might feature stacks of cash in every pocket. Generally speaking, however, those are relatively shallow ways of looking at the world and they’re not the kind of goals that bring anything even approaching a full life. They just bring the noise.

Your version of living a larger life might involve being at home when the school bus pulls up at four in the afternoon. Your ideal lifestyle might feature an opportunity to explore interests and hobbies that have always fascinated you instead of a tour bus or a media junket. That big life might feature a Timex and a charitable donation instead of a Rolex and an illicit affair.

The fact of the matter is that it’s up to you to define that lifestyle and to then make it a reality. We often make the mistake of believing the common media message that the ideal situation is that which is enjoyed (or at least lived) by celebrities. That’s not necessarily the case, though. We’re not all going to give surly Oscar acceptance speeches or have a very public feud with our lead guitar player.

We should count ourselves lucky, too. We have the chance to construct our own ideal realities. We can live large -without the noise. All it takes is a willingness to be a little introspective and to start considering some new and different ways to improve ourselves. Mix those traits with a bit of action, and they sky’s the limit.

Living life large It’s a very powerful concept.

When you achieve confidence through resolute clarity, it breaks down the barrier that often stand in the way of living the life of your dreams. Unless you have that confidence, life remains a struggle. When you do have it everything else falls into place.

I strongly recommend that you follow the link to this website. I think it can help you understand why your next step should be the development of that resolute confidence–and how to get there:

http://ClarityToConfidence.com

Have you ever thought about what it takes to get from point A to point B? After careful consideration I believe you would need 3 things: energy, a vehicle, and a map.

If you were going across the frozen tundra by dogsled the dogs would provide the energy, the sled would be the vehicle, and you would provide the map.

If you were traveling by car, gasoline or fuel would provide the energy, the car would be the vehicle, and you would bring a map, use GPS, or simply follow the interstate signs.

If you were sailing around the world, the wind would provide the energy in conjunction with the sails, the boat would be the vehicle, and you would use a chart, celestial navigation, or GPS.

If you were running a marathon you would provide the energy and you would need to fuel your body accordingly, you would be the vehicle, and the route would be mapped for you.

Regardless of where we go in life or how we go, these 3 things are essential.

So then, in going from point A to point B, first you must acknowledge where you currently are, kind of like when you walk into the mall and you see one of those large maps with a marker that reads, "You are here!"

Next, you need to determine where point B is for you. Where do you want to go? It’s pretty hard to get to a specific point if you don’t even know where that point is. This is probably the most difficult part for me personally. With so many options, how does one choose?

It’s like that question you sometimes hear at a job interview, "Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?" This is the only question that ever makes me cringe. I guess it’s because if I answer truthfully, I feel it might jeopardize my getting the job. If I don’t answer truthfully I’m going to feel bad because I’m going against my moral compass.
So I say something that’s totally true, but I don’t get real specific.

The truthful answer would be, "Well I sure don’t see myself working for someone else and taking orders from some corporate butt kisser." OK, I think that was a bit harsh!
At any rate, the answer I would probably give would be something like, "I see myself as being very successful and achieving all of my goals." This way I’m telling the truth, I’m just not elaborating on the details.

In order to develop a plan, you need to determine where you want to go. For some people, they just know where they want to go and they’ve known since childhood. For the rest of us, it takes some serious thought.

Because there are a lot of things I enjoy and a reasonable amount of things I do fairly well, it makes the process of choosing the vehicle a little more difficult. Yes, having lots of options can sometimes slow us down because we don’t know where to begin.

In choosing your vehicle you need to ask yourself three things:

1. What do I love doing or would love to learn?
2. What are my natural abilities or what am I good at?
3. Is this a viable choice and is there a demand for this in today’s economy?
4. Will your choice enable you to reach your destination?

The Vehicle. Now that you have chosen a career path or occupation, this can be the represent the "vehicle" part of the equation.

The Map. Once you have a vehicle you need to determine how you can use it to arrive at your destination. Is your vehicle going to be a Volkswagen or a Lear Jet? You need to determine how far you want to go to and make sure that your vehicle will get you there.

The Energy. Simply ask yourself "why" you want to get to point B. What does getting there mean to you? The "why" is your motivation or "energy", the fuel that will propel you forwards.

Of course, life is much more than a destination, I see it as a journey with a lot of lessons along the way. While it would certainly be efficient if we could go in a straight line from point A to point B, this is seldom the case. Sometimes, there are detours and unexpected layovers and besides it’s just more exciting when you have a few challenges along the way. The point is that once you determine what your "B" is, getting the map and the energy should be a piece of cake!

Stress is a known contributing factor to many diseases.  The Latin prefix “dis” means away from or apart from.  So a body with disease is a body that is not at ease.  Since stress is a major part of our lives this could obviously become problematic, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  It’s all about how we manage the stress.

Stress itself isn’t a bad thing.  Think about it.  When you want to get in shape you certainly don’t do it by lying around resting all the time.  You put your body through a fair amount of stress in the form of exercise and it responds and adapts.  This is how we increase our strength, stamina, and flexibility.  So then, it’s not necessarily that stress is bad but rather our response to the stress.  Part of how we respond to stress is simply how we communicate with ourselves.  If you tell yourself that something is stressful, it surely will be.

Of course, there are instances that truly are stressful.  If you are someone who is terrified of heights, then you would probably find a job as a skyscraper window washer to be quite stressful.  If you are someone who is claustrophobic, then you would probably find working in a cubicle all day to be stressful.

Since we can’t completely eliminate stress, not that we would even want to, we need to learn how to manage it.  Here are ten surefire ways to help manage stress:

1.    Don’t Over Commit. Simplify your schedule to where you’re not trying to do too many things.  When you cram too many activities into your life, it’s hard to enjoy them for worrying about what’s next on your list.  How much can you really enjoy a vacation when you have to see every single attraction?  How much can a child really enjoy their childhood when they are participating in so many activities that they need to schedule play dates weeks in advance?  Really!
2.    Prioritize. Don’t try to do everything.  Just pick what’s most important and do that first.  Be like a postage stamp and stick to one thing until you reach your destination.
3.    Exercise. Pick an activity you enjoy and get moving.  This is really a great way to alleviate tension.  The key is to do something you really enjoy.  Don’t let the weather stop you either.  This can be as simple as putting on some music and dancing around the house.
4.    Relax. Take a little time each day to do something relaxing.  It could be time spent with a nice long bath, a good book, a love making session, a massage, meditation, a walk, listening to music, or anything else you find relaxing.
5.    Live Within Your Means. Financial worries can cause a lot of stress.  Living within your means can help this greatly.  If you’re in debt, figure out where you can cut expenses.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun which brings us to our next point.
6.    Be Creative. Creativity feels good and is a great stress reducer.  Whether it’s playing an instrument, writing, painting, sculpting, photography, gardening or whatever, just create something and see how good it makes you feel.
7.    Get Organized. No doubt you’ve heard the saying, “A place for everything and everything in it’s place.” When you’re not organized you waste so much time just trying to find things. Get rid of excess clutter in your home and office. It feels good to live in a clean and clutter-free environment.  Have your bills paid automatically.  Plan your grocery shopping and meals in advance.
8.    Laugh. Now this is a biggie. Huge. Just as stress can be harmful, laughter can be beneficial.  Try to do something fun every day.  Play a game or watch a funny movie.
9.    Eat right. Try to develop healthy eating habits.  It doesn’t have to be extreme, just try the 80/20 rule.  Make sure that 80 percent of what you eat is healthy and then you can indulge in the other 20 percent.
10.    Focus On The Good Stuff. As the late George Carlin would have said, "Don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!" Quit worrying because it never helps.  Focus on all that is good in your life and be grateful.  Have an attitude of gratitude.  It’s easy to be happy when you realize all the things you have for which to be thankful.  When you’re happy it’s much easy to keep stress under control.

So there you have it.  The easiest ways I know to keep stress from being too stressful!

The other day I was thinking of a dear old friend of mine and recalling how much she has changed over the years. I’ve known her since childhood which means we’ve been friends for a very long time. When we were teenagers, she went through a particularly wild phase. She experimented with every kind of drug imaginable, had unprotected sex with numerous partners, and even did a little occasional shoplifting. There’s more, but I’ll stop here that as I think you get the picture. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed hanging out with this particular friend. She had a great sense of humor and was obviously very open-minded.

Then it happened; she met and married a terrific guy. This was probably the beginning of her metamorphosis. Marriage obviously agreed with her; she settled down and really seemed to love wearing the hat of domestic goddess. She became an excellent housekeeper, superb cook and a great wife. A few later, they welcomed their first child into the world and then a second and then a third. Motherhood is something at which she excels. She is patient, nurturing, and supportive and helps her children with their goals and dreams. She has also become a great role model for her girls and they have all grown into fine young ladies. They often do family activities together including attending church every Sunday.

My friend has come such a long way. She’s been a Girl Scout leader for several years, been married for over 20 years now, and has also worked for the same company for over 20 years. She’s been involved with the PTA and was a soccer coach as well. I am so proud of her many accomplishments.

Reminiscing about my friend made me question something. If we can accept our friends with all of their faults and mistakes from the past, then why do we have so much trouble accepting ourselves? When I think of the person my friend used to be, I don’t think any less of her. She made some mistakes and exercised some very poor judgment. So what? Big deal. Haven’t we all? Now if she had seriously intentionally hurt someone that would be a different story. The only person she ever hurt was most likely herself. When I think of her, I rarely think of her as the person she was, but rather as the person she has become.

This gave me a bit of an epiphany. If we don’t love ourselves how can we expect others to? If we can’t forgive ourselves for our past mistakes, then how can we ever move forward? If you’re focusing on the negativity of some aspect of your past then how can you be positive for the future? It’s kind of like driving. If you spend too much time looking out the rear view mirror it takes your focus away from moving forward.

I hope that my dear friend realizes what an amazing person she is and that the mistakes from her past have helped her to become who she is today. Mistakes can be a great teacher; they show us what not to do in the future.

Have you ever tried to walk forward while looking backwards? It would be very hard to do and you would most likely either stumble or arrive at your destination much later than anticipated. Mistakes are inevitable and we all make them. The key is to learn from those mistakes and then stop looking backwards. We reach our destination only when looking in the direction we wish to go.

She recently made a blog post about Technology Criticism .  The post was about how some various religious groups were urging people to turn off their cell phones and computers in order to focus on their relationships with people. Wendy goes on to give her response to their comments.

My take on all of this is that I do feel that technology is a great thing.  I love being on Facebook and reconnecting with old friends and sharing photos and stories, and so forth.  However, I feel that for as much as technology has taken us forward, it has also taken us backwards.  Backwards, in that many people are so tech savvy they forget how to be people savvy. They know their internet etiquette but have completely forgotten their social manners.

I remember at my first job we used the kind of cash registers that didn’t compute change for you, you had to do it yourself.  If the customer’s order rang up to $11.88 and they gave you a twenty you would put the twenty on top of the cash drawer then you would retrieve their change and count it back to them.  First, you’d hand them 12 cents and then you would say, "That’s 12 dollars," then you would give them 3 more dollars, one at a time, and say, "That’s 13, 14, 15," then you would hand them a 5 dollar bill and say, "And 5 makes 20."  You actually had to know how to make change and think about what you’re doing.  It’s a bit scary when you see cashiers these days and you  hand them a few extra pennies so that you can get even change back and they give you that look of panic like you just threw them a major curve ball.

I know this is probably making me sound old, but we didn’t use calculators that often in high school either except for sometimes algebra or when doing trigonometry or logarithms. I sometimes wonder if people are losing the ability to even do basic math functions without the aid of a calculator.

Where I also see a problem is with inappropriate cell phone usage.  By that, I mean talking on a cell phone at a restaurant, in a confined area such as a waiting room, or checking out at the grocery store. This is just plain rude to those around you.   I don’t want to hear all the details of everything that’s going on in your life if I don’t know you.  If I did, I would ask.  Although it’s more the exception than the rule, I’ve been at the local bookstore cafe on numerous occasions when someone is talking so loudly on their cell phone that I could tell you where they’re going for dinner, who they’re going with, and what they’re going to order.  Sometimes the person is seated right next to me and it’s as if they’re oblivious to the fact that everyone else in the cafe is trying to read or have a quiet conversation.

As for driving and talking on the cell phone, it’s just plain distracting.  If you’re the passenger, fine.  If you’re the driver, I feel that cell phone usage should be limited to situations where you’re driving in low traffic areas.

Perhaps the message the critics were trying to make was that it’s best not to let these devices take the place of face to face relationships. Instead of texting and talking on the cell phone, why not just enjoy the company of the person you’re with?  I’ve also observed people who were seated at a restaurant and one of them receives a call on their cell phone and proceeds to have a 5 minute conversation as if the person they were with wasn’t even there.  Again, in my opinion, this is very disrespectful.

I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that the more advanced we become with technology, the more lazy and unappreciative we become, or so it would appear.  It reminds of that scene in Wall-e where everyone is fat and lazy and floating around in their little pod.  In closing, I’m simply saying that technology is great when you keep it in it’s proper place, don’t get consumed by it, and don’t forget how to think!  Most importantly, appreciate what an amazing time we live in, and try not to take it for granted.

Check out this video.  This guy totally makes my my point!

Today’s post is going to be short and sweet.

I have recently become acquainted with a yogi.  He is a peaceful soul who lives in the Caribbean and travels around the planet teaching yoga.  He used a quote the other day that I really enjoyed.  He wasn’t sure of the quote’s origin but it’s one he’s been using for a while.  I found it to be so simple yet so profound.  It goes like this…

"Past is experience, Present is experiment, Future is expectation.  So use experience in your experiment to achieve your expectation."

Now if only I can remember these words of wisdom and apply them on a regular basis.  I’ll leave you with that thought as I have some experimenting to do!

How To Get Into The Zone

By Saleem Rana

Alan C. Walters, an author and motivational expert, has often been "in the zone." He calls it the Golden Magic Zone.

In his book, The Secrets to Increasing Your Wealth, Power, and Happiness, he describes one of his remarkable experiences.

Once I wanted to purchase an airplane, a turbo-charged Beech Bonanza, that cost $38,000; I had $3,000.

I circled the advertisement in red ink and thought, "How am I going to turn this $3,000 into $38,000?"

An idea flashed to mind: Play Blackjack!

It was a Sunday morning. I got into my car and drove 280 miles to John Ascuga’s Nugget in Sparks, Nevada, a suburb of Reno.

I sat down with two other people at a table that had a $400 a hand limit. I cashed my $3,000 for chips and bet $400 on two positions.

I played for twenty minutes and bought cards three times by double downing an ace, two, and received an eight each time.

I hit blackjack twenty-three times in twenty minutes; I had a huge pile of chips. The first time I lost a hand, I quit.

Picking up my chips and taking them to the cashier, I found I had won $58,000; I had $46,000 after taxes.

I purchased the Bonanza for $34,000, cash.

On my first flight, I blew the engine over Aurora, Oregon. Looking down, I saw a small airport. It had no radio, so I landed with great billows of black smoke pouring from the engine. I didn’t know where I was, and the airport was surrounded by trees and hedges.

With several taxiways disappearing into the trees, something made me choose a taxiway toward the south end of the field.

As I taxied between those trees, I saw an old, broken-down shed. I stopped the plane in front of the shed, climbed out and walked through the front door. There I saw an elderly man putting away tools.

"Is there anyone at this airport who really understands turbo-Bonanzas?" I asked.

The man smiled. "Well," he drawled. "Up until last week, I was the foreman and head mechanic of Bonanza West, over at Portland Airport."

Amazing! (I was in the right place at the right time).

I had him replace the engine and do a complete overhaul of the plane. It cost $12,400, the exact amount I had left from my winnings. I flew that plane for ten years and never had another problem.

What are the factors that create this unique experience?

Dr. Perry Mitchell, a psychologist and public speaker, has identified some critical elements that can help anyone step into the zone.

Since what you focus on expands, you get into the zone when you naturally capitalize on your strengths and get over your mistakes quickly.

If you enjoy what you do, you will effortlessly create a momentum that can carry you into the zone, a state where you are focused, relaxed, and self-trusting.

People rarely enter the zone because they completely believe in two myths about success.

One is that to do well you have to work hard. The result of this, of course, is that since you want to do well to succeed, you believe that working harder and harder will get you closer and closer to your goal. What it does, however, is increase pressure, anxiety, and fear. Instead of doing better, you actually do worse as you fatigue and tense up.

Another myth is that pain is good. It has been particularly popularized in sports with the slogan, "no pain, no gain." Again, increasing pain results in a state of exhaustion and the cessation of effort toward your goal.

These myths are so ingrained in the collective unconsciousness that most people operate on them without even noticing them. They feel that they are not making progress unless they feel a sense of strain and effort. And they doubt if something can be good for them if it doesn’t cause discomfort.

What keeps these two myths operating is what Dr. Mitchell calls the "Critical Advisor." In Freudian terms, this would be the Super-Ego. It is an ego state that is omnipresent and works on you by making you doubt anything and everything, especially your own self-worth. It is your inner map of how you should be and persistently criticizes you for not measuring up. It considers negative motivation to be necessary for your success.

To get into the zone, you have to shut off the Critical Advisor and get into the "Hands Free Zone." This term is based on an analogy. When you are riding a bicycle without holding the handlebars, you’re in the "hands free zone."

When you are in the Hands Free Zone you are soaring. When you are in it, you are focused, but in a relaxed way, like a karate expert, who is both alert and relaxed enough to strike quickly at an opponent. However, once you start to notice that you are focused, the Critical Advisor leaps in and puts you down, thus cutting off the evenly flowing psychic energy that was putting you in the zone.

The Critical Advisor has a contest mentality and a critical mentality. The contest mentality is polarity. An evaluation of whether you are good or bad, performing well or poorly. The critical mentality is the belief that you are not good enough to do it well, not worthy of accomplishment. It constantly looks at results.

Thus, the Critical Advisor operates on a polarity paradigm and a results paradigm. Since its job is to criticize you in the belief that this will steer you in the right direction (negative motivation), it cuts off any flow or zone states. You are so focused on not making a mistake that you manifest mistakes. By trying not to miss the ball flying at you, you fumble and let it slip through your fingers. By trying not to hit the lake as you make your golf swing, you send it straight into it .

The way to avoid "choking" is to turn the Critical Advisor off. You do this by being willing to consider multiple options. And you do this by focusing on the process, not the results.

If there are more than two options, then the polarity of right and wrong lose their grip on you. Similarly, if you’re still in process, you can’t judge results.

Doing it right is relevant to the Critical Advisor. But to the person in flow, doing it is all that matters. When you are just doing it, not worrying about whether you are good or bad at it, not concerned about results, then you are in the zone.

In the zone, you surge (enter the Hands Free Zone), recover (from the Critical Advisor), and surge again (back in the Hands Free Zone).

In relationship to time, the Critical Advisor seeks to either dominate the past or the future.

In reviewing the past, it stirs the emotion of guilt and regret. In previewing the future, it stirs the emotion of doubt and anxiety.

A person in the zone, focuses on the present, which completely removes all the negative emotions that arise from contemplating the past or the future.

There are two formulas for getting into the zone.

In the first formula, you do the following:

1. Notice what is happening right now.

2. Weigh all your options (also called the magic of the third option).

3. Learn from your experiences.

4. See what is different.

In the second formula, you do the following:

1. You perform a centering ritual. For example, a basketball player may bounce the ball three times before shooting for the net.

2. You perform a mental rehearsal. The basketball player envisions the ball arcing and flying into the center of the hoop.

3. You optimize. Turn up the volume, so to speak. Releasing the ball into the air.

4. Finally, you capitalize on what you did well. Say a loud "yes" with a clenched fist as the ball slides perfectly into the hoop. This reinforces the subconscious.

Getting into the zone is possible. But it is a skill more than just luck. And like any skill, you have to practice to get good at it.

Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas with you. Hunting everywhere for a life worth living? Discover the life of your dreams. His book Never Ever Give Up tells you how. It is offered at no cost as a way to help YOU succeed. http://www.theempoweredsoul.com/enter.html

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]]> http://www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com/?feed=rss2&p=911 2 http://www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com/?p=890 http://www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com/?p=890#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 14:35:26 +0000 Debra Wier http://www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com/?p=890 The other day I was having lunch with my husband and we were discussing how life presents you with

so many challenges. Everything will being going along just fine and then, bam, something comes your way that you have to deal with. It sort of reminds me of playing poker.

Now, I’m not really a poker player, mind you, but my husband plays occasionally. He was playing Texas Hold ‘em for a while with a group of guys in our neighborhood and he did fairly well. My definition of doing fairly well at poker is simply winning more often than you lose.

I asked him to explain a little bit about the game and I learned that there is actually a good amount of strategy involved in the Hold ‘em variety of poker. Of course, the way you wager depends greatly on the strength of the cards you’re holding. However, there are many other factors to consider such as which community cards are on the table, whether or not another player might be bluffing, where you are in the betting cycle, and even where you’re seated in relation to the dealer. It’s really quite a bit more involved than that but you get the idea.

Last week my husband was diagnosed with a condition that will require him to take Prednisone for an extended period. We were discussing the many side effects from the long term usage of steroids. While there are many, we are both very grateful that such a drug exists that can alleviate his symptoms.

I always look for the silver lining in every situation. In this instance, the news was like the kick in the butt that we needed to ramp up our health and fitness regimen. Without receiving such news I wouldn’t be nearly as motivated to live a healthier lifestyle.

Thinking of my husband’s recent health issues as well as some of the other stress inducers of daily living, reminded me of playing cards. You might not always get the hand you want, but the important thing is to play the cards you’ve got to the best of your ability. Do this consistently and you have a winning formula.

"You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money, when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’, when the dealin’s done." ~Kenny Rogers, The Gambler

Have you ever known anyone who had a great start in life but just didn’t play their cards right? I’ve known a few people in this category. They enter the world and are nurtured and loved and given every opportunity yet somewhere along the way, they just stop trying.

Then there are those who started the game with some pretty lousy cards but turned out to be magnificent players.

To win at poker you need to play every hand to the best of your ability. You need to learn the rules, maximize your wins, minimize your losses, and develop a consistent style. So then, it would appear that winning at the card game of life is a lot like playing poker.

The video below has nothing to do with poker but it truly is the most amazing card trick I’ve ever seen and so I thought I would share it in case you haven’t already seen it.