Mid-Week Motivation: Nailing Down Your Zone

Well this month for Mid Week motivation I've been sharing the critical elements to creating you're own Zone experience.  I do hope the information has been helpful. And I really hope that you've broadened your perspective about The Zone; understanding it's more about the elements than whether or not you play on the field.

Keep practicing and refining your elements and I can assure you, you will have your Zone experience and it that will take you to a whole new level.

Check out today's video for a review of all the critical elements, plus a few extras.

Kurt Elder of Energy F/X Fitness reviews the elements necessary for Getting in The Zone. Each week, for the month of September, Kurt shared with you certain ...

Mid-Week Motivation: Getting In The Zone -- Let's Put It All Together

Well the month of September is almost over.  I don't know about you, but to me it seems like this year is flying by.

This month I shared with you the elements necessary to getting in The Zone. In addition it has been my intention to help you understand that getting in The Zone is not just for athletes, though that is often where we hear the experience discussed most often. Getting in The Zone is about having certain elements present in order to create the environment for an experience in The Zone.  It's not just for those playing on the field.

The first element we discussed was the idea of Focus/Concentration.  I discussed the importance of taking an activity you enjoy and engaging in that activity for 15-30 minutes with complete 100% concentration. I realize in a world that is pulling us in so many different directions on a day in and day out basis, sometimes just being able to concentrate is a task by itself.  But at the same time it is a necessary component to having a Zone experience. 

The second element I shared with you was the element of Getting in Synch with Yourself.  I discussed with you the concept of being mentally present is one thing, but taking it to the next level and making sure you're also present to the physical part of the experience is equally important, and absolutely necessary to having a Zone experience.

The third crucial element I shared with you was that of Setting Challenging Goals. This is an important point to understand because just concentrating and being in synch is not enough to have a Zone experience if the activity your enjoying is not challenging.  The goal has to require you to step up to another level. It has to require an increase in your concentration level and being in synch with yourself in order to achieve the goal. You can't just go through the motions or just be present at your usual level. You'll have to take it up a notch. Thus the goal is not too easy, but not overwhelming either -- it is achievable, but will require you to use the first two elements to achieve it.

This week's important element is a bit more challenging. It is often referred to as the Loss of Self-Consciousness.  Meaning you are so concentrated on the activity, so in synch with the physical aspect of the activity that it almost seems effortless and you lose the aspect of judging your behavior or performance.  Instead you are solely focused and aware of the actions. It is as if you are an integral part of the process of this activity.  It is more a feeling than an effort. Different from the previous elements, this is more experiential.

As you can see, each of the elements we have discussed this month actually built upon one another.  In order for you to Get in Synch with yourself you have to have established a good level of Concentration, etc.

For the final week I will discuss some other elements that are often mentioned as part of certain Zone experiences so that you have a fuller understanding. Not all the elements are needed, but I believe, from experience, there are definitely certain elements necessary to even create the environment for a Zone experience.

Until next week. . . Keep practicing!

Mid-Week Motivation: Get In Synch With Yourself

This week I wanted to address another critical element necessary for getting in The Zone, having a Peak Experience, or being in The Flow.  As I shared with you on Monday, many of us spend more time on auto-pilot than we do being present to the task at hand. If you're serious about making any sort of changes in your life, or are looking to have a re-creative experience, check out today's video blog post.

Kurt Elder discusses another critical element to getting in The Zone, having a Peak Experience, or being in The Flow. http://www.energyfxfitness.com

How To Find Your Big Rocks

I really believe many people operate on auto-pilot more often then they even realize.  When you actually ask a person why they do such and such (a certain exercise, or have certain nutritional ideas) I get this looonnggg pause of silence, as though I've asked the question in Latin. Then the person usually goes on to quote some article or person who told them this perspective.  But when I ask them what do they think, they look bewildered.

The above is a great example of the goal of today's blog post -- to help you understand why you do what you do. Too many of us are operating on autopilot; dissatisfied with the results, but not really participating in the creation of the goal or process.

If you're serious about making any sort of transformation in your life, whether it's to lose weight, get out of pain, make more money, save more money, or just have a more satisfying life overall, you have to be clear on what your Big Rocks are.  If I may take it one step further, if you're reaching for a Peak Experience, Being in the Flow or Being in the Zone, you have to first be very clear on what your values are, what drives you, what moves you, what you're really committed to doing. Basically what values are you sincerely motivated by, and are they your values or one's you've just picked up along the way?

Believe it or not, I have found more than one or two people who practice fitness by default. They do it just because someone told them it's important, their partner does it, etc., not because they are sincerely motivated by the idea or the benefits it yields.  The problem with this orientation to health, fitness, and wellness is that it comes from a place outside of you. And trust me when I tell you that when an idea you follow is not yours, it is short-lived and usually has merger if any positive results.

You have to see the value of a certain idea if you're going to commit to doing it and see positive results. As we all know, even when we are doing things we like, it's difficult to commit to doing them day in and day out if we don't feel some sort of passion and commitment to doing them.  Because let's be honest, committing to something is not always convenient. And unless you're passionate about a certain value or idea, you'll just stop doing it when the going gets uncomfortable.

So. . .

Take out a piece of paper and write down a list of 7 things that are important to you. Don't judge them, just write them down. If you find yourself having a little trouble, perhaps think of people you respect and admire and write down characteristics of each of these individuals. Do you notice any items on the list being repeated? That's a clue that those items may be core values that you yourself aspire to have or already contain.  You could also write down things you've heard others say about you, both the positive and the negative. Sometimes other people see us more clearly than we see ourselves.  It may even be helpful to start off by writing what is most important to you in life. After you've written the 7 items are important to you, then ask yourself why is each value important to me, what does having 'that' mean.

This is a good starting point for getting to your core values. It is a way of fleshing out what values you live your life by and why.   And if you feel like sharing, then post your list and your observations on my blog.

Next week I'll share with you what to do with this list of core values and how to use it to your advantage in achieving all of your goals!

Until next week. . . .