Peak Performance and Relaxation!

PEAK PERFORMANCE:  The story of Lance Armstrong  has been an amazing one. How can you not be impressed with the challenges he's overcome? His mental attitude and innate competitiveness present an inspiring example.

There is documentation of how his body is somewhat of an anomaly: being able to efficiently process fuel, in the muscles, 3-5% more efficiently than the pro riding next to him and 8% better than the average fit man allows him to perform better on the same amount of carbs.  It makes me wonder about the chicken and the egg dilemma: which came first? Everything I have read has suggested, he was born with these advantages, but I wonder if someone so good at the mental intention side couldn't have kept visualizing until his body mirrored his picture of perfect fitness.

Either way, it's something to think about:

If it is inherent strengths that he was born with, it certainly shows the power of knowing what strengths you have and leveraging them (something I've been advocating with my clients for years!). Those who acknowledge and use the core values and natural gifts that are unique to them seem to just attract success.

If his clear vision, intentions and work created the changes his body need to excel at his chosen sport, it is a powerful reminder that we have more power over what happens within our bodies than we think.

RELAXATION: To be in top form, full of energy and focus, athletes take days off from training because their muscles can not be most effective without the recovery time. Unfortunately, many agents I meet are trying so hard to excel, they do not plan for recovery time. 

Studies have found that when you work in excess of 40 hours a week, your effectiveness begins to wane. Overworking can knock your ability to focus and make good decisions down to 50%-60% of your potential.

COACHES CHALLENGE:

• What  natural strengths do you have? Make a list of them and then think about how you can leverage them more fully.
• Create a mental picture of what it is you really want. See it happening. Create an affirmation that you will use for the next 30 days to support your dream and intention. Write it on 4-5 stickies and post by your computer, on your bathroom mirror, car visor, etc. Read it out loud 3 times in the morning and 3 times before you go to bed.
• Watch for synchronicities.
• Do you have at least one 24 hour period of relaxation/play time on next week's calendar? If not, make it a habit to block and schedule it every week.

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