Video transcript:
Peak performance happens in the present moment, in the here and now. When you’re competing in baseball, the only thing that matters is this pitch. This is challenging. Umpires make bad calls, other teams trip us, our teammates make mistakes, you make mistakes. The difference between the players who overcome this adversity and those who don’t is how quickly they can refocus to the present moment.
So what does it mean to be focused on the present moment? To understand this we have to look back at our mission and to what we can control in any given moment. We have to ask ourselves: What is my job right now? What type of player have I committed to be? Answering these questions will help us understand what it would look like to have a present moment focus in a certain situation. For example, when you’re at the plate your approach probably requires you to focus on the pitcher’s release and react to the pitch coming in. When you’re on the mound, your intent probably requires you to get the signs from the catcher, pick up his glove and throw the pitch with trust and conviction.
Whatever you’re doing you’re completely locked in on what’s going on right in front of you. You’re not worried about thoughts of the past or about thoughts of the future. Now the most important question is: How do we refocus on the present moment when our mind has been pulled away by distractions? Stay tuned to find out in part two.