North Star Mental Fitness Blog

Successful Teenagers

Michael Jordan was motivated to elevate his performance continually to higher levels.  I want to tell you about three teenagers, who also have had high aspirations and recently achieved great successes.  All three teenagers showed remarkable ability to focus and achieve their goals.

When Chalonda Goodman was six years old, she was enthralled with Michael Johnson's successes in the World Olympics.  She also was mesmerized by the athletes in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. 

She told her father "I want to do that". 

Stuart Kantor wrote "A passion ensued, fueled by an innate desire to run faster than any girl lined up next to her". As a result of her ability to focus and work towards her dream, she graduated from high school with 8 state titles in track.

High school senior, Bryce Lamb, triple jumped farther than any high schooler in the nation.  He also set a state record in his home state. 

He began his track career at the age of five. "I quit the first practice," Lamb recalled. "It was too hard. I was walking to the car and I told my mom, 'I don't ever want to do this again.'  At the age of six, Bryce began training.

Bryce has set his goal to participate in the 2012 Olympics. "It's always been in my mind, and it's possible now," he said.

Stuart Kantor also wrote about a teenager, Bonnie Richardson, who lives in a small Texas town of less than 600 people.  Her school did not even have a track program.  Twice Bonnie has accomplished the unbelievable.  By herself, she has won two state team track championships in the state of Texas.

All of these teenagers show the importance of good mental fitness as expressed in their persistent motivation to excel in their athletic endeavors.  They courageously remained on target to reach their goals and avoided all distractions that would interfered with achieving their goals.  Undoubtedly, they overcame many obstacles in order to become successful.

We can learn a lot from these teenagers.  We can learn to set our dreams and courageously work toward achieving our dreams even when external circumstances are bleak, limiting and discouraging.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Susan Boyle Is a Winner!

In spite of losing Britain's Got Talent competition, worldwide favorite Susan Boyle is a champion.  She not only sang her signature song, "I Dreamed a Dream", she lived her dream! 

Burn the Boats

Queme los barcos," or "Burn the Boats, because defeat is not an option".

Hernando Cortes was a conquistador and explorer who sailed to the New World in attempt to find treasure.  Many great leaders had failed before Hernando came along.  Hernando trained his soldiers during the day and built their morale at night.

When the time came for fighting and accomplishing their goal, Hernando told his men to burn their boats.  He went on to emphasize that defeat and retreat were not options.  He reassured his men and challenged them to be victorious.  Following their victory he reasoned, they would sail back in the enemy's boats.

Recently the University of Michigan's basketball team surprised many by beating Minnesota on their home floor.  This victory was necessary in order to enter the big dance at the end of the season.  Coach Beilein challenged the team by talking about burning the boats, because defeat was not an option.

This quote was mentioned in an article by CJ Lee, senior guard, in an article entitled Court Vision with C.J. Lee: Live Life without Regrets. 

From a mental fitness perspective, C.J. Lee understands what it takes to be victorious.  It takes a total commitment to your goal and the belief that failure and defeat are not options. 

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

 

Koyie Hill and Mental Fitness

Have you heard about Koyie Hill?  He is a professional baseball player who has made a remarkable recovery from an accident that had threatened his career.

October 16, 2007 was the day, which almost ended his career.  He was working on a saw, when the accident occurred.  His thumb was cut first and then three more fingers.  Ligaments and tendons were severed on three of his fingers and his thumb.  His thumb and fingers had to be reattached surgically.

I imagine that at the time of the accident, he was distraught and fearful regarding his future.  In fact, in December of the same year he was told by a doctor that he would never play baseball again.

Koyie did not give up.  He didn't give up his dream even though it seemed unlikely.  He had the confidence and determination to reach his goal.  Rick Gano, AP Sports Writer, interviewed Koyie who said:

“In the back of mind I always knew if I got the opportunity to play like I did, the Cubs kept me in the lineup down there, I knew I was going to be able to do it. I knew it was going to be hard and it looked ugly at the beginning.”

When he first began to return to his career, he described his fingers as feeling like "frozen carrots".

He needed mental fitness to overcome his disability and psychological fears and anxieties.  He went through hours of physical therapy and learning how to use his hand.  In his own words he said "

“It was a long deal. We did three or four hours of therapy every day and you battle a lot of nightmares and ups and downs emotionally as far as your career,” he said.

“I’m proud I’ve been able to overcome. Every day I got to keep on top of it. We feel like we got it under control for the most part.”

Koyie has had a remarkable recovery.  Once again he is back in the major leagues.  He has been able to perform all of the skills necessary for his career with a surgically repaired hand.

We can learn a lot about mental fitness and toughness from Koyie Hill.  He has shown us that life's impossibilities can be transformed into actualities.  He has shown us the power of our mind.  He has shown us that we can overcome the physical, emotional and realistic limitations in our lives. 

He has shown us the power of our will and mindset.  What we habitually think and believe about ourselves can overcome all of the obstacles looming in our vision.

He has also underlined the importance of continuing daily the exercises and thought patterns that are necessary for continued growth and self-improvement.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Michael Phelps And Mental Fitness

The accomplishments of Michael Phelps are a tribute to his physical and mental fitness.  He is the winningest Olympian in the history of the Olympics.  He has 14 gold medals.  He has five more gold medals than any athlete in the history of the Olympics.  This year he achieved eight gold medals in swimming.  No one in the history of the Olympics has won more than eight gold medals in one Olympics.

AP National Writer, Paul Newberry wrote:

"Michael Phelps kept every swimsuit, every cap, every pair of goggles he wore during nine magical days at the Water Cube. Every memory will be savored, too, from goofing off with his US teammates to bowing his head not one, not two, but eight times to receive a gold medal at the Beijing Games.

“There are moments I’ll never forget,” he said.

Neither will the whole world."

Michael's successes and worldwide recognition are the result of his years of physical and mental conditioning.  According to Paul Newberry Michael was "the kid was afraid to put his head in to the water".

He overcame his fear.  He had a dream.  He focused on breaking Mark Spitz's achievement of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.  For many, this goal was perceived to be unobtainable, but not for Michael.

"Being able to have something like that to shoot for, it made those days when I was tired and I didn’t want to be there … it made those days easier to look at (Spitz) and say, ‘I want to do this,’” Phelps said. “I’m just thankful for him having done what he did.”

When Michael was 11 years old, he began a relationship with his coach, Bob Bowman.  12 years later he reached the pinnacle of success.  His commitment and persistency on a daily basis develop the skill and confidence for him to be the best in the world.

From Michael we can learn to overcome our fears and achieve unattainable goals. 

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Taking Care of Herself Crowded out Her Paranoia and Panic

I was pleasantly surprised when one of my clients informed me that she no longer had paranoia and panic.  I looked at her with disbelief.  Although I have known her very well, I had no idea she suffered from paranoia and panic.

She had made very significant improvements in her life.  She has been living one day at a time with a focus on taking care of herself.  I knew her depression had significantly lifted.  I knew her self-concept had significantly improved.  I knew she was coping effectively with the uncertainties in her life.

She has frequently verbalized how relaxed and confident she feels now that her mind is fit.  She has become empowered to make good choices.

I was surprised and stunned initially.  Then I realized her unexpected freedom from paranoia and panic was confirmation of the mental fitness theory.  This young woman have become stronger than her problems.  

She is living proof that mentally fit individuals overcome problems in their lives without having to focus on solving specific problems.

When people focus on taking care of themselves in the present, they avoid all types of problems and unwittingly solve many of their recognized problems.

Taking care of yourself will empower you to be stronger than your problems.

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Family Values, Faith and Fitness

Family values has become an electrifying issue for the University of Michigan football team.  The controversy regarding family values surfaced when offensive guard, Justin Boren left the team, because the team's "family values have eroded".  His statement was extremely painful.  After all, he was a second-generation football player at U. of M.  The quotation from Justin Boren was embedded in an article "Rick Rodriguez is building a proud program at Michigan" which appeared in Koala325.

Bob Flounders from the Patriot News wrote an aspiring article on family values.  The story was about the heartbreaking losses experienced by the Mealer and Richer families and about the victories experience as the result of family values, faith and fitness.

Elliott Mealer is a very talented football player, who committed to play for the University of Michigan.  On Christmas Eve in 2007, a car accident took the life of his father and his girlfriend, Hollis Richer.  Elliott, his mother and brother Brock survived.  Brock had a severely damaged spinal cord and broken wrist.

The importance of family values was seen at the time of the accident, when Elliott tried to lift a section of the SUV to free his loved ones.  As a result he had a torn rotator cuff injury.

Elliott talked about his father's love and commitment to his family.  "My father was the type of guy who would do everything for the family".  When he was in the second grade, Elliott remembered talking to his father that he wanted to go to a school where they played football.  Elliott said "we ended up moving".

Life has not been easy for Elliott, since the accident.  Elliott confided "I can't get the vision of the wreck out of my mind.  My girlfriend, my dad,  I'm still going through stages".  Elliott went on to say "what makes it really hard is that my dad and my girlfriend were my best friends".

Family, faith and fitness has helped Elliott go on since the tragic accident. Elliott attributed his faith to his girlfriend.  "She has such a strong faith.  I've never seen anybody with faith as strong as hers" said Elliott.

A bond developed between the Mealer and Richer families.  Since the accident, Elliott has lived with the Richer family.  Obviously, the Mealer and Ricter families had nurtured very strong family values based on faith.

Bob Flounders wrote "faith has carried Elliott Mealer in the six months since the life-alternating the accident and faith has convinced him that his brother will to defy doctors' predictions that he would never walk again".

If you want to know what faith and fitness are all about, listen to the words of Elliott's brother, Brock.  "Well, I know I am going to walk again.  I don't know how long it will take, it may take 10 years, but I'm going to do it."

Elliott calls his brother "Miracle Mealer".  Talking about his brother, Elliott predicted "when he puts his mind to something, it gets done".  Elliott has another brother by the name of Blake.  Elliott went on to say "Blake and I were the athletes, but Brock's tougher than all of us".

I want to conclude this inspiring story by talking about family values that transcend the fierce rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan.  Brock's spirits were recently encouraged by a phone call from Jim Tressel, the Ohio State Football Coach. 

Former University Of Michigan Football Coach, Lloyd Carr, used his influence to get brought into U of M's medical facility.  Even though Brock is a Ohio State student, Rich Rodriquez and his staff have regularly visited and encouraged Brock.  Brock stated "Coach Rodriquez and his assistants have been great to me".

Life is about family values, faith and fitness.  The Mealer family, the Richer family, Elliott, Brock, Coach Carr, Coach Tressel and Coach Rodriquez have together created an inspiring story for us all to emulate.  Yes, the coaches and players at the University of Michigan still have family values.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Mental Fitness Programming Applied to Overcome Anxiety about Surgery

The Turn Around Choice of the North Star Medal Fitness Program has been designed to reduce anxiety, panic and fear. 

In fact, this Choice can be used to reduce and manage all self-defeating behavior.  Yesterday, I taught a client how to apply the Turn Around Choice to reduce anxiety and fear about flying in an airplane.

At first he was skeptical.  Then he went through a stage of disbelief as he never thought of this approach to reduce his fear of flying.  As he began to understand how he could reduce and manage his fear of flying, he relaxed.  He felt confident.  He exclaimed that the general public should know about this procedure. 

We talked about how this procedure could be applied to solve so many problems like addictions, other fears and problems with poor impulse control. 

As we talked, I began to feel rather foolish.  I had completely forgotten to apply the choice in my own life!

You see, later this morning I will have shoulder surgery.  I had completely forgotten to master my anxiety, fears and indecision regarding the surgery with the Turn Around Choice.  I admitted my oversight to my client.

Immediately, I applied the Turn Around Choice to relax me regarding my surgery.  It worked.  Yesterday and today I have an inner calmness about the surgery.  I also know that I can use the Turn Around Choice, if my fear or panic return.

I also emphasized for my client one more fact.  Even though a person knows the secrets of mental fitness, mental fitness relief will not be experienced unless the Turn Around Choice is consciously made.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Kansas Won the Mental Game

Kansas is the 2008 NCAA basketball champions.  Trailing by three points as time was running out of the game, Mario Chalmers made a Michael Jordan like three point shot to send the game into overtime.

Both Memphis and Kansas are champion quality basketball teams.  Both teams were well coached.  Both teams had players with excellent physical fitness and abilities.  Both teams had been both mentally and physically fit or they would not have reached the championship game.

In the championship game, I believe Kansas won, because they showed greater mental fitness and toughness. 

Silda Spitzer Standing Strong and Standing Up Elliott

Heartbreak!  Heart broken!  Her dreams broken!  Her life twisted and  turned upside down by the whirlwind disclosures of her husband's infidelity.  The essence of her marriage destroyed.

Holding in her pain as seen in her face and facing the entire world and media, she stood strong and committed to herself and her role. 

From a mental fitness and mental toughness perspective, I admire and respect Silda Spitzer.  Let's get it right.  Our eyes betray us and pictures did not tell the complete story.  Silda Spitzer is not and was not standing behind Eliot.

Silda Spitzer has been standing with her husband throughout his career. 

Silda Spitzer has been standing in front of her husband throughout his career.  She has been his solace, coach, guide and resource person.  What we see in the famous pictures is not Silda standing behind Eliot. Instead, we once again see Silda behind the scenes standing up Eliot!