This week, we saw an example of mental toughness that will be recorded as one of the greatest wins in the annuls of golf history. Tiger Woods, through grit and determination, blocking out all other options, save winning the 2008 US Open, does so with an injury that most players would probably not compete with. It was an amazing display. A lot can be learned from listening to Tiger’s interviews vs. Rocco Mediate’s interviews.
For me, when I think of the term “mental toughness”, I get impressions from my past that are ego related or ego dominated, more accurately. The “fighting through all obstacles to get to the goal type” mindset. This brought up an aggressiveness in me that I immediately recognized as having caused failure in my past. This aggressiveness is inappropriate for most situations and often resulted in my pushing away the very thing that I was trying to manifest in my life. It meant that I didn’t see the goal as an already existing fact and that I was trying to push to get what I wanted rather than being calmly assertive toward what was already in existence or what I considered to be an already existing fact. This aggressiveness actually created resistance to the goal itself. What an odd paradox.
I was working strictly from outer purpose without employing inner purpose. Inner purpose is a far greater power in aiding us toward our goals
than outer purpose alone.
Understanding this distinction is the difference between success and failure in anything. The process is a) know what you want then b) create an image of what that looks like in your mind then c) accept that as an already existing fact and d) act in that direction being completely present to what is and in alignment with the present moment. The opportunity will then be recognized and the goal achieved.
Knowing What You Want
This is the first step in the manifestation of anything. Getting a very clearly defined image of what you want is essential to achieving. This mental image provides a road map, of sorts, to guide you along your way to the goal. How you’re going to get there isn’t important, it’s that you get there. The path may take you to places you didn’t know you’d go but eventually will lead you to the end result. Focusing on the path or “the how” could prolong the time it takes to reach your goal or have you missing the opportunities you need to realize it altogether. Focus on the end result with clarity and confidence. Get lost in the process, get better at your execution and the path will appear.
Accept Your Goal as Existing For You Now
The fact is that somewhere, someone else has already achieved the same goal or a similar goal as you are trying to achieve. It’s already been done and is already in existence. Someone else has done it, so can you.
In my more ego based past, I saw this concept as being delusional. “How can I think this is already in existence when it hasn’t happened to me yet?” As I mentioned in part 1 of “Who You Are” we’ve been blessed with a creative imagination that allows us to experience in our minds that which we’d like to see in our outer experience. When these ideas or images are created as already existing facts in our imagination and accepted by the conscious mind they are then passed along to the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind doesn’t know if this is an imagined experience and a physical experience. The subconscious mind can’t differentiate between the two!
Every accomplishment, every achievement has had it’s birth in thought.
This being the case, when your goal is viewed as being an already existing fact you begin to “act as if” it’s already occurred. Resistance, attachment and judgment dissipate and you develop a resolute presence that will allow opportunity to be recognized and action will result to realize your goal. You’ll begin acting in the now without pressing and forcing what hasn’t occurred yet. You allow what is to come into your experience calmly and deliberately, not through force.
Tags: failure, goals, mental toughness, personal development, Rocco, Success, Tiger, US Open