Mindfulness is a word that is used more often now than ever before, but its meaning may not always be well understood. One definition from Wikipedia is “bringing one’s complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis.” Its supporters claim that mindfulness reduces stress, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and many other things.
How to Find The Zone
In this post we will explore an altered state of mind called being in the zone, or being in flow. In such times life feels easy, very easy indeed.
So what does this have to do with you? Almost everything, as far as your future success is concerned. The reason is that when people are mindful and living in the present, they are capable of performing at a much higher level than they thought possible. Athletes call this “the zone”; others describe it as “being in flow.”
Mindfulness is one of the techniques included in my NLP coaching programs. Whatever you wish to call it, you will have likely experienced it before, and you know that it was a great feeling. At such times, it feels as if life is easy, and all you have to do is push at open doors.
How great would it be if you could have this feeling more often or even create it at will?
Meditation
I was lucky enough to attend medical school during the seventies and even luckier to remember most of it. I was a student for five years, and the resultant lack of money was more than compensated for by the opportunities to party, play sports, learn to stitch wounds in the emergency room, and assist in operating rooms. These were my passions at the time, and so I was happy most of the time.
I also learned how to meditate. I can’t remember why, but in retrospect, it was the most valuable trick I learned.
My only vague memories of the meditation course I attended are that it cost money, and I didn’t have much of that. I can also remember I had tickets to watch the Rolling Stones and almost missed the concert because my teacher didn’t wake me up. He thought I needed the rest!
Keep a Secret
I can also remember my special mantra, about which I was sworn to secrecy. I remember thinking, “I bet everyone gets the same mantra,” but for someone who should never be trusted with a secret, I have kept my promise, so far!
Since then, I have spent most of my life working in Africa as a medical doctor in challenging conditions. This included seven years in Angola during a bloody civil war and four years in Nigeria in turbulent and sometimes violent times. I was shot at, shelled, and imprisoned (briefly), and I nearly died from malaria. I took these incidents in stride and have no doubt I kept a calm mind most of the time through regular meditation.
This post included excerpts from one of my books titled Get Lucky Now!.
