athlete

Consciousness is power: a lesson from pebbles

By Kristen Ulmer

While a body builder, Schwarzenegger was rumored to say lifting weight 1 rep in a conscious state enhanced results more than lifting the same weight 10 times in an unconscious state.

While we wouldn’t take relationship advice from the guy, perhaps this comment deserves pondering!

Ever hear: Knowledge is power. It was relevant when whomever first said it. Yet the world is evolving so fast knowledge is now available with a click of a button, and this statement is no longer viable.

What is viable today? Consciousness is power. Awareness is power. You want to be the best athlete you can be: become as conscious as you can. That way you can see where you’re stuck (and we’re always stuck) and effortlessly make shifts (second by second).

Problem is, becoming more consciousness is not a natural state for us humans. Lifting weights 10 times like a robot repeating an unquestioned pattern is our norm. Training our bodies, pondering technique, eating right, recovering are all good things, but they can take up your whole training life and turn you to stone.

Add a consciousness practice though, and you will do great things. Sure, it’s scary, perilous and one of the hardest things imaginable, plus it never ends – it’s called practice for a reason. But we all know you have to practice anything to become good and remain good at it.

Consider this: When you’re a kid 2 + 2 = 4 is a big realization. Then in High School you solve algebra x and y problems and that’s a big deal. In college you calculate speed and gravity mind twisters and are blown away. Imagine what you learn getting a Ph.D. in physics? Same with consciousness. If you keep seeking the next level — if you keep your empty cup extended — you will transcend and include each level until eventually, awareness has you flowing like water.

Reminds me of a great story. Three holy men are spending their lives camping in the desert, waiting for an awakening experience. Suddenly one night the sky opens up and a mighty voice booms from above: “Gather together all the pebbles you can in your bags tonight!” Then the sky closes and the moment ends.

What? Pebbles! The men are so disappointed. This is the message they’ve been waiting for? They gather a few pebbles but it’s late and they feel stupid so their efforts end quickly.

The next morning they wake up and see the pebbles have turned to diamonds.

If you’re willing to take your experience with your sport beyond what you’ve already created, by starting a mindset practice, you will have access to infinite power, rather than being limited to the power of only one self.

Gather those Pebbles. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo Credit: Alain Limoges

You can’t become powerful. You can only realize you already are powerful.

When I was on the US Ski Team as a mogul specialist, I noticed when my peers where in the gate for a competition — a mere second before they pushed off they all abruptly clacked their poles together. Every single one of them did this! So being no dummy, I tried it too.

Clack! And off I went. I’ll be damned if something in me didn’t shift.

It seems most pro athletes have a ritual; the prayer, the nose rub, a tap tap tap on the leg. I know a football player who would tie and untie his shoes 15 times before every game. What the heck are they all doing anyway?

They’re shifting from one form of consciousness into another. They’re shifting into focus, in an instant. Just like us mogul skiers, without any effort.

Imagine you’re standing on the left track of a railroad track, but you want to be on the right track. Same when you’re in one form of consciousness (the normal, unconscious self), but you want to be in another (say, the powerful, athlete self). How do you get there?

Most look up and see it appears the two tracks meet up waaay off in the distance. Hurrah! So they start walking down the left track, hoping with enough effort, time and commitment they will eventually get to the other track. Some will even run, thinking this extra effort will get them closer, faster! But how long will you have to effort down that left track before you’d meet up with the right?

Forever. And the longer you effort down that track the more invested you’ll be with your process, and unwilling then to try anything new.

Stop now. What great athletes know how to do, and most of them don’t even realize they’re doing it, is with just a little pause or ritual, they jump track. In an instant. Into focus. Into the right mindset. It is indeed as simple as walking into a grocery store or lifting up a book. You don’t think about it, you just do it, without the need to understand.

You can’t become powerful, the only thing you can do is realize you already are powerful.

And suddenly like Bruce Lee, you’ll know: “The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.”

Want to experience this shifting in person? Come to a camp with Kristen Ulmer this year. Find the consciousness that works best for you, and jump track again and again. The more you practice it, the more easy and familiar it becomes.

Photo Credit: draculina_ak