Sports Quotes & Living In The Present(NOW)

Hello Friends,

Hope all is well. I grew up playing sports. I think that's why I love quotes so much. I was fortunate to have very good coaches in the sports that I played. There are still pre-game speeches that I remember to this day, and apply to my daily routine.

Eckhart Tolle talks about being present. When you are present and living in the NOW, this is when you are closest to the creator. This is the moment when there is no thinking involved. You're not worried about the past. You are not anxious for the future. You just are...

Athletes who compete in their chosen sport, when focused, are totally living in the moment. Now that I think about it, when I was playing basketball, I wasn't thinking about what happened in class that day. I wasn't thinking about my term paper that was due the next day. I was simply in the moment of sport.

These are some things you may have heard athletes saying after a game.
"I just tried to stay in the moment."
"I didn't want to get ahead of myself."
"I tried to focus on the task at hand."
"I had to block everything else out."

Now more than ever, athletes exercise their brains as well as their bodies. Every good athlete knows that it takes a positive mindset to be successful. Golf is one of the most mental of all sports. I started taking this game seriously about a year ago and have actually learned a lot about myself.

In order to play golf you have to be very focused. Attention to detail is key, as well as the ability to let go of a past shot. The legend Ben Hogan said,
"The most important shot in golf is the next one."
Another words, no matter what shot you just hit, whether good or bad, all that matters is the shot you have now. This is being present.

If you hit a bad shot and you let it get to you, your next shot is probably going to be horrible. The key to golf is forgetting your last shot and putting all your attention into making a great shot. If you step up to that shot thinking about the shank you just hit you are really living in the past. When you live in the past, your present results will be a reflection of your past. Another shank.

Golf has helped me with my visualization. I was watching a special with Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley and he mentioned that part of his pre-shot routine was to close his eyes and actually see himself hitting the shot. With that image in his mind, he proceeds to imitate the great swing he just envisioned. It has worked well for me. When I forget to do it, I usually hit a bad shot. When I visualize, my shots end up a lot better.

I try to transfer this into my everyday life. When you are wanting something it is important to visualize it exactly how you want it to be. Since practicing this on the golf course it has become easier to use this technique during my day to day activities. I am more focused when I am meditating(praying). The mental images have become clearer.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have been able to play sports and most recently golf. I never thought I would have become so obsessed with this game but I have learned a lot of valuable lessons as a result.

The following is a you tube video produced by The Secret Guru. It has some great sports motivated quotes. Start to live your life in the moment. Don't worry about past or future event. After all...they don't exist. There is only ever right now. Many blessings, and thanks for listening.

4 comments:

Patricia Hannigan said...

Golf is an awesome sport. I would defy anyone to play for a season without learning a lot about themselves in the process.

Here's to some great golf in 2008!

http://www.photographicpointofview.com said...

I am just beginning reading "The Power of Now". I'm a devout Christian who experienced "enlightenment" in the early 1970's. We seem to share many things including "Going Green". I plan to subscribe to your blog to keep up on your posts.
Keep up the great work.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by Patricia. Hit 'em straight and hit 'em long.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary. Thanks for the kind words. The Power Of Now is great. A New Earth, Tolle's other book is excellent as well. For me, being present is not worrying about the little things that distract me from meeting quality people like you. Many blessings!