How the “Best of the Best” Achieve Mastery

From U.S. Navy Seals to Olympic medalists, examples abound of individuals and teams who breakthrough barriers, overcome challenges and optimize performance. How do they do it?

Hungarian American psychologist and author Mihaley Czikszentmihalyi coined the term “flow” to explain the phenomenon of self-transcendence when we are fully immersed in the task at hand, vibrating with confidence, clarity, purpose, and calm.

According to Czikszentmihalyi, “when we choose a goal freely without ulterior motives and invest ourselves in it to the limit of concentration, whatever we do will be enjoyable. And once we have tasted this joy, we will redouble our efforts to taste it again. This is the way the self grows.”

The degree and sustainability of mastery and flow are impacted by mental, physical, emotional, and environmental factors as well as discipline, preparation, skill, and drive.

Members of the U.S. Navy Seals who make it through Hell Week share a common practice of looking fears. limiting beliefs and assumptions square in the face; calling them out, labeling them, confronting and re-framing so they can keep going. As Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going!”

Both Navy Seals and Olympians are required to become “masters.” They use specific tools to facilitate continual improvement, renewal and re-growth including:

·      a “stress is enhancing” mindset to facilitate persistence, determination, and grit

·      practice of addressing fears directly and re-framing them

·      envisioning conquest and success

·      having a “hero” figure in mind to model

·      goal setting or compartmentalizing tasks into pieces with each having a purpose and function that must be achieved before next one can be addressed

·      highly specific visualizations and repeated mental rehearsals allowing self to visualize detailed sequence of events, possibilities and best practice responses and consequences of each

·      laser sharp focus on event at hand only with full attention on present moment

·      self -mastery and emotional control (centering breath work before and/or during event)

·      positive self -talk only

·      clarity around their “why” or purpose and understanding of the community served

·      willingness to trust and use their team

·      acknowledgement and expressed pride in progress and accomplishments

·      commitment to continued growth and improvement.

These shared habits help transcend physical, mental, and emotional barriers and tap into the inner resources needed to “push beyond.”

What is your “ideal vision” for self, regardless of obstacles faced? How do you want to show up and be perceived? What’s preventing laser-sharp focus on excellence and engagement when you are called on to perform? What’s holding you back from fearless confidence, equanimity, and resilience? Are you making the conscious choices that allow you to be in alignment with values and fulfill your purpose?

If you’d like to learn more about “mastery” for yourself or your team, join us for free introductory webinar on June 15 at 12 noon PDT (www.bydesigncoachingcenter.com/events) and/or email us at laura@bydesigncoachingcenter.com to find out about customized performance workshops!