Level 2.44 - Instinct

Level Your Life [The Level of Instinct][2.44]

Instinct


The I Ching reminds us to "act out the dance of your inner self, trust the inherent correctness of your instincts,.. in this way you will meet with success."
Over the years, we have learned that to know and to act are one and the same. Your actions and performance are the result of the body´s innate intelligence, coupled with a mind that trusts what the body knows while being willing to step out of the body´s way.
It is a response that comes from our unconscious minds. Martial artists call it a sixth sense, a state of hyper-awarenes that produces calm in an otherwise fearful, tense situation.

In sports,fitness and life performance is directly related to your ability to follow your instincs: those impulses, feelings, and automatic responses - quick reactions to fast-paced situations.

You need to call upon and trust your intuitive self.

We all possess this instinct, yet few of us trust it to the extent we must to be successfull. When we are in the midst of physical activity, there is often no time to think, so cultivate and develop your instincts as you practice and work. 

Follow your inner voice and notice how things develop. Know that good things happen when you rely on natural insight. 

Instinct, or intuitive action, is a significant aspect of Zen and Buddhist thinking, and having a Buddha mind means trusting and acting accordingly. Notice how your greatest successes occur during those times when you trust the wisdom of your heart, your basic instinct.

Remember these words of the Tao Te Ching : "Evolved individuals know without going about, recognize without looking, achieve without acting."




Declaration: My instincts are the result of real knowledge, based on the wisdom gained from my experience. My performance success is the result of trusting and following this inner sixth sense.
 I am in sync with instinct.

Reflection : What recent success have I had using my insinct ? In the future, what specific things can I do in the situations I may envision that will allow me to trust and follow my instinct ?



[paraphrased and inspired by Spirit of the Dancing Warrior]

Level 2.37 - Focus

Level Your Life - [The Level of Focus][2.37]

Focus

The Tao Te Ching says, " Hold on to the ancient Tao, control the current reality." In other words, when you stay focused in the moment, you control what can be controlled - you take the charge.

Such was the case of a world-class athlete who, running a marathon, told his tired body not to run twenty-six miles; he told it to run one mile and repeat it twenty-six times. His focus was on one small segment at a time.
Small,manageable segments offer a way to focus on each step of the way, whether in an athletic event or any other area of life. This will both relax and energize you while also increasing your confidence in achieving the task as you control your current reality.

Focus is the calm state of parking your attention on your experience in the moment rather than on past events or future possibilites.

This Zen state is equivalent to where your mind goes during a compelling movie or book as all else fades into the background.

We know that the difference between a good performance and a bad one is simply focus. So where must your focus lie ? On what you can do in the moment.  When your attention is on outcomes,results, or scores, which you can´t control, you get tense and tentative, and your performance will usually suffer.

When you focus instead on what you can control - the process, the little things,your attitude, the mechanics, and your mental training - you become calm, relaxed, and confident and thus create favorable results.

Using meditation, visualization, and affirmation as suggested by LYL will train your mind to have the focus of the seeker.




Declaration: I choose to focus only on what I can control, in that moment, and enjoy the process of experiencing my very best performances.

Reflection : What are all the little things involved in my activity that I can control, and how can I develop better focus in other parts of my world ?






[Add-on : Affirmations,Visualizations,Exercise,Guide]






[paraphrased and inspired by Spirit of the Dancing Warrior]