North Star Mental Fitness Blog

There Is a Cure for Choking And Loss of Momentum

"Tonight I was playing in the finals of a local tournament and missed the nineball in two games. Due to these misses, I came in second place.

Is there a cure for this disease?"

 

This was the gut wrenching plea from a frustrated billiard player, who wrote "Choking nine balls? Help!

 

Is there a cure for choking and loss of momentum?

Choking and loss of momentum are seen on a daily basis in every sport.  Errors and mistakes are inevitable and part of amateur and professional sports. 

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune humorously wrote about choking by one of baseball's super stars, Soriano:

When Does a Tool Become a Tool?

When does a tool become a tool?  This may seem like a strange question to you. 

"A tool is always a tool", you might think. For example, aren't your screwdrivers, hammers or pliers always tools?  You bought tools, because you wanted to have them in your toolbox for when you need them. 

We like our tools, because they are not perishable like fruits and vegetables.  Tools have a long life, unless misused or fatigued because of years of service.

Of course, you say "a tool is always a tool". 

If you think a tool is always a tool, you are both right and wrong.  How could you be wrong?

 

Do You Want Elite Fitness?

It's time to leave my comfort zone.  My comfort zone has become too uncomfortable.  With a welcomed medical release from my physician, I have reintroduced myself to my exercise equipment.  As usual, I find myself wanting to put it off or wanting to rush into physical activity.

As I stand in a familiar, comfortable, but discouraging place in my life, I am looking forward to actualized my dream for physical fitness.

As I start again, Greg Glassman coached me well.  I appreciate the following words of caution, clarification and challenge from Greg Glassman of Cross Fit Eastside  in his posting, Intensity, comfort and results.

These are the words of Greg, who calls it the way it is:

4 Sources of Errors

Robyn McMaster from Brain Based Biz wrote a post asking this important question: How Do Doctors Think and How Do You? 

"Do you take time to step back and take a good look at the basis for your decisions"?

Robyn also went on to say: 

"Jerome Groopman, hematologist at Harvard University took an in-depth look at doctors' decision-making and concentrated on what leads to mistakes. Groopman's findings not only teach us how to approach our doctors with a little more savvy, but also prod us to think deeply about decision-making.

You'd be surprised to know that 80% of medical mistakes are the result of logical fallacies, not being aware of all possibilities and communication with the patient."

What are the four causes of errors?

Thank You Steve Ron

Centered by a Miracle is one of the most inspiring, emotionally uplfting accounts of prayer, friendship, teamwork, mental fitness, and the skill of doctors defeating leukemia. 

I was emotionally moved by the commitment and winning mind set of Steve Ron (at that time a fledging reporter for The Ann Arbor News) and Rod Payne (at that time just retired from his football career as an All American center from the U. of Michigan and lineman for the Super Bowl Champions, Baltimore Ravens). 

Steve continues to inspire and motivate people to defeat the cancers in their lives.  He writes, gives speeches, visits diagnosed  cancer patients, and brings hope to cancer patients and their familites.  His web site and book are inspiring tools for empowerment over illness; victory over despair and triumph of life over the threat of death.

I am thankful for Steve and Rod, their special friendship, and the message of hope they give to us all.

Floyd Landis's Secrets For Success

Floyd Landis is the champion of the 2006 Tour de France.  I want to thank Ryan Marle from The Alpha Project for his blog on Floyd Landis and the secrets of Floyd's success.

Landis talked about what he learned from Lance Armstrong:

"His boldness at taking charge of things. His willingness to say, This is what I want, and I'm going to take it. It's very hard to compete against that."

In Outside Online there are group of articles revealing Floyd's secret of success. 

"Landis takes a sip and leans forward in his chair.  There's only one rule: The guy who trains the hardest, the most, wins. Perod.

My Trainer Changed My Entire Mindset

Former University of Michigan linebacker and Philadelphia Eagle's linebacker, Dhani Jones, discussed the need for men to take care of their mind, body and soul.

According to his website, dhani55, Dhani means "thinking man" in the Hindi language and his middle name, Makalani means "skilled in writing" in the Polynesian language.  He is a Renaissance man.  He loves poetry, classical music, oil painting, woodworking and photography.  His favorite quote is "Seize the Day."

He is extremely well-qualified to give men tips about being a man.

Ron Artest and Adam Mair on the Family

Two different sports personalities were in the news. 

Ron Artest, forward for the Sacramento Kings, made headlines again for violent behavior.  Sam Rubinstein of The People's Champ reported that Ron Artest was arrested for domestic violence.  Lang Whitaker of The Links also posted on Artest's domestic violence arrest.

In contrast to Ron Artest, I read an article on Adam Mair, a Buffalo Sabre hockey player, and his wife.  Adam and his wife, Alli, talked to a group of children about teamwork. 

What can we learn from these two professional athletes regarding mental fitness in the family?

"Win the Moment"

"Win The Moment" was on the back of the victorious basketball team's jerseys.  The team celebrated their victory in a hard fought basketball game. 

I wondered how many times during practice the coach had conditioned the team with: "Win The Moment!"

From a mental fitness perspective, "Win The Moment" was such a refreshing message.

Why did I love this saying so much?

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Baseball and Anger Management

A mental fitness solution for anger management was found in an unlikely place.  Understanding baseball was the key for setting appropriate expectations; thereby reducing the need for anger management.

His mother was enjoying my conversation with her young son.  Finally she interrupted our interchange and suggested that her son talk to me about his anger issues.

Although he has to yet enter his teenage years, he began by saying that he thought he was old enough to start to make his own decisions.  He continued