Some of you I’m sure are aware of my love of rowing. I enjoy watching it whenever I can and especially during the Olympics. Like cycling (another love) it is a gruling sport that forces you to push through pain while keeping in mind your personal best goals. I have been amazed that so many others share my love of the sport because the post “If Not Now… Then When” is one of the most read on this blog.
Rowing and cycling for me are metaphors for life. I say that because we encounter the pain and difficulties that tax our bodies and yet the vision we hold in our heads keeps us coming back again and again to keep going. Life is that way too. Every now and then we are knocked down or fall for that matter, but that vision in our head says: “Get up, keep moving, I can see you doing this so clearly that you can touch it!” and somehow day after day we rise to the challenge.
The coxswain is a vital part of the rowing equation because this tiny person has muscles of steel, they are just in the mind’s eye. I will admit that I have become a groupie of the coxswain Mary whipple because she has mentally become a giant among the giants in the boat. I want you to watch and listen to Mary describe how she visually prepares for their Olympic race. Notice as she describes certain details of the upcoming event that her eyes move to her right and up. This is generally an indication that she is literally “seeing” herself doing this. Notice too when her eyes move down and to her right. At those moments she is allowing herself to “feel” the emotion of the moment. The process she follows is so instructive of the visualization process, that if you have a chance visit and revisit this video because it perfectly illustrates how you can mentally prepare to win your life race!
A final note: This embeded video can only be viewed during the Olympics in North American and NBC being #NBCFail that it is (you know what I mean) I am also providing a You Tube Link just in case: