| The main thrust of this Practice
is to help you to begin to understand the early stages of
peak performance states. Rather than "trying" to
achieve a peak performance state, and wondering why it isn't
quite happening yet, this Practice is designed to help you
start from where you are, and begin the journey from there.
As always, you might want to read through the instructions
several times so that you can do this Practice without needing
to keep your head in the notes.
Sit comfortably looking in the mirror, if a mirror is available.
If not just sit comfortably.
1. Attune to yourself
Notice your breathing....the way you feel as you sit quietly....what
you notice visually....the sounds around you......and
your bodily sensations.....
Perhaps most of all....notice your breathing, and take
a deep breath.....feeling any internal sensations you
might have....and any rocking movements or sensations
of energy that you might experience....
Also notice the clothing on your body, the expression on
your face, the hair on your head........
Feel the movement of your chest and back as you breathe.....the
way you are balancing your head on your neck and shoulders........the
rhythm of your heartbeat as you breathe slowly.....and
begin to notice that your experience of yourself and your
experience of the "moment" are changing.....
.
2. Formulate "a statement
of intention" regarding what you want to learn at this
time in regard to peak performance states.
For instance, "I want to learn about entering into a
peak performance state." Or perhaps something a bit
more specific, "I want to feel what it feels like to
be fully absorbed in the moment."
As always, please be certain to state what you DO want to
learn, and not what you want to stop doing. When you are ready,
make your statement of intent out loud, making whatever statement
suits you.
Now, take three deep breaths.
3. Now, turn your statement
of intent into an "I am" statement.
Make believe you have already achieved your stated intention.
Having ALREADY achieved your intention, you might say (for
instance) "I am in a wonderful peak performance state
and really enjoying myself." Or "I am fully absorbed
in the moment and feeling quite enthused."
Make your "I am" statement now please.
Now, take three deep breaths.
4. Now, make your "I
am" statement again, and begin to imagine how you would
be feeling if you were already in the peak performance state
you desire. Imagine how you would be feeling, thinking, and
reacting to the world around you. Imagine how your thoughts
and actions would be different than usual.
Take at least one full minute for doing this imagining.
Now, repeat your "I am" statement again.........
And then take three deep breaths.
5. Slowly....notice your
breathing.... your body movement.... your bodily sensations......
the balance of your head and neck......and breathe deeply
three times.
In a few moments, you will slowly and lovingly speak from
a feeling of already having accomplished your goal of entering
into a peak performance state. You will describe your bodily
sensations and all that you are aware of in this moment of
total absorption. You are to assume the role of a peak performance
coach and speak out loud.....talking MUCH SLOWER than
usual..... offering your description to a person who is
wanting to understand what you are experiencing so that they
might also learn more about how to enter into an embodied
state of flow.
Realizing that we don't just all of a sudden jump into
a peak performance state.... Your task will be to help
your "client" BEGIN to understand what you are
feeling, as you SLOWLY enter into a state of total absorption.......Help
your client to learn how to begin to enter into a similar
state for themselves........ Slowly........Softly.......Tenderly.......IN
the moment. Speaking from the perspective of "I am feeling......
I am experiencing.......".
Please allow for a minimum of five minutes to slowly describe
your experience in an improvisational manner.
The key points to consider here are four:
1. Talk from the experience you
are having in the moment, without any rehearsal or forethought
in regard to what you will say. "What I am feeling and
experiencing right now is......."
2. Keep your attention wide and
continue to notice what is going on in and around you while
describing exactly what you are feeling/noticing. Describe
the sights, sounds, and physical sensations and physical processes
you are experiencing.
"I hear the sounds of cars passing by, I see the calendar
in front of me, I feel the rhythm of my breathing, and I feel
a sense of feeling deeper into my experience."
3. Allow and encourage yourself
to describe whatever it is you notice or feel in the moment,
without concern for how unrelated your thoughts and feelings
are. For your peak performance mind, there IS a relationship
to all that you are experiencing. Remember, the peak performance
mind is filled with experience. It does not take the time
to judge or evaluate what is being experienced.
4. By no means do you need to
talk the entire time, Being truly quiet is also great. But
if you are quiet and then you do begin to sense internal dialogue
turn the dialogue into an external teaching conversation.
Take three deep breaths and begin to describe your experience
out loud Now, by starting out with describing:
Your breathing....the way you feel as you sit quietly....what
you notice visually....the sounds around you......and
your bodily sensations.....
Describing what it feels like to take a deep breath.....feeling
and describing the internal sensations you are having....and
any rocking movements or sensations of energy that you are
experiencing....
Describe the feeling of the clothing on your body, the expression
on your face, the hair on your head........
Feel and describe the movement of your chest and back as you
breathe.....the way you are balancing your head on your
neck and shoulders........the rhythm of your heartbeat
as you breathe slowly.....and begin to notice that your
experience of yourself and your experience of the "moment"
are changing.....
When done, it is great to take some notes to help you remember
and reenter this experience in the future.
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