Article by Zhang Xinyue of Create Abundance.
Have you ever heard athletes talking about “getting in the zone”? “The zone” is usually a colloquial term for experiencing the flow state, in which they experience supreme, almost automatic focus. Their movements feel almost effortless and subconscious. Time and their surroundings seem to fade away as they play with joy, focused only on the present.
This mental state is known by several different names. In Zen and Japanese martial arts, it is known as mushin. Practitioners of these disciplines are taught that the key to experiencing this state of mind is abandoning thoughts of fear, ego, and anger. Like many other skills in sports, athletes can reach this state of mind through training and practice.
By learning to create abundance through positive thoughts, mindfulness, and meditation, athletes can make it easier to enter the flow state and improve their performance during games. Entering this state of mind allows athletes to play with joy instead of fear, not allowing stressors to undermine their mental strength during the most difficult moments of a game.
Sports are supposed to be an enjoyable activity. In a hyper-competitive atmosphere, that joy is often replaced with fear, pressure, and a desire to prove you are better than your opponent. Don’t let these stressors distract you from achieving your full potential on the field or court. Add meditation on positive thoughts and abundance to your training regimen so that you are well equipped for the intensity of competition. The challenges of competition will feel like child’s play to you when you can play with joy and without overthinking your movements.
Zhang Xinyue is the author of the book Create Abundance. The book is a collection of Teacher Zhang Xinyue’s words of wisdom concerning body-mind-spirit cultivation. Originally published in 2012, it has remained a best seller. It has been translated to numerous languages.