3 min read ⌚ 

Secrets to Pure Performance

“The Mindful Athlete” explains how you can tap into the pond of hidden “superpowers” every one of us carries with them, by becoming present in the now and practicing mindfulness.

About George Mumford

Georg Mumford is a public speaker, the meditation coach to the LA Lakers, and the sports psychology consultant for the Boston College men’s basketball team.

“The Mindful Athlete Summary”

Have you ever seen an athlete do something way beyond human powers?

Athletes can perform in a way that most people cannot, but their abilities do not depend solely on a well-trained body.

In fact, it is as much as training the mind, as it is training the body that is needed to reach top performance.

But, these techniques can be used not only to improve your athleticism but to improve your overall performance in every area of life.

According to author Mumford, there are five superpowers every human can develop: mindfulness, insight, concentration, trust, and right effort.

Okay, let’s look into these concepts one by one.

First is mindfulness. It is a quiet strength that comes from within.

Being mindful means paying attention to the present moment, and shutting off all distractions.

If you manage to control your mind, you will reach the Zone, which is the place where your top performance lies.

You can practice mindfulness by focusing on what is happening in your body and mind in the “now.” However, it is quite possible to become distracted during the process.

You can avoid this by becoming an observer of what is going on in your mind and being without judgment, and without letting it control you.

Whenever you feel your thoughts stray, shift your focus to your breath. This will almost immediately bring you back to the present.

This world is full of talented people, and yet not all of them succeed to reach their full potential.

Have you ever wondered why is that the case?

We have the answer for you: because they do not believe in their abilities.

A considerable number of people do not understand the impact their beliefs have on their performance.

Beliefs are not just thoughts – they are materialized in our everyday life as our habits.

So, if you want to get different results, you have to change your behavior.

And if you want to change your behavior, you have to go straight to the root of the problem: your beliefs.

Key Lessons from “The Mindful Athlete”

1.      Focus on the Present Moment
2.      Awareness of Breath
3.      The Importance of Emotional Blueprints

Focus on the Present Moment

Do not allow everyday distractions to take away your attention from the present moment.

Mindfulness is the stepping stone that will lead you to top performance, so always be aware of what is going on around you.

Awareness of Breath

Whenever you feel your thoughts wander, try to become aware of your own breathing, which will always bring you back to the present moment.

Breathing works in tandem with the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of our autonomous nervous system, which are responsible for regulating our body functions.

The Importance of Emotional Blueprints

Every person possesses emotional blueprints which consist of negative emotions and insecurities.

It is important to become aware of the emotional blueprints one possesses, since they can transform from being just emotions we feel, to actual behaviors and actions.

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“The Mindful Athlete” Quotes

Emir Zecovic

Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.