The Mind-set and Spirit of a Champion

Article Title: The Mind-set and Spirit of a Champion
Shared by: Craig Lock
Category (key words/tags): Champion, motivation, inspiration, empowerment, sport, sport psychology, positive psychology , achievement, peak performance (enough there for now, craig!)

Web site: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

The submitter's blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help , writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

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If it helps others “out there” on the pathway to success (and most importantly, happiness ), then we’re very happy.

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THE MINDSET AND SPIRIT OF A CHAMPION
In this article we’ll look into the heads of the greatest champions… and perhaps we “ordinary” (what’s that) can learn and apply these principles in our own “top two inches”.
Here are a few thoughts on developing the right mindset, mentality to achieve “greatness”in whatever field you may choose.:

So what are the qualities, the traits (nice word that!) of a champion?
To “kick off”, here are the four "D's" of important, no essential “virtues”:
* DESIRE: True champions have a burning fire within them. One that motivates them and inspires them to “challenge history".

* DISCIPLINE:
They have a cast-iron determination to work really hard at their craft.… to be the very best!
Champion sportspeople and athletes work really hard on strength and stamina (fortunately "matchstick-men" writers don't have to make that sacrifice)

“And in this there is for us mere mortals a sobering humility in the knowledge that they have not just had the gifts, but were prepared to work far beyond the normal physical and mental boundaries to develop them to the full extent of their powers.”
- fine writing by Ian Gillies writing about former All-Black rugby player Ian Kirkpatrick in the Gisborne Herald (web site www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=17486 )

* DETERMINATION (driving) : to reach the very top in their chosen field.

“He is the embodiment of grit and determination.” (the "will to win")

* DESPERATION (“God responds to desperation”):

The ability to “dig deep” in the face of severe pressure will produce extraordinary effort.

The Will to win
“He was the epitomy of the Springbok flanker: tough, indomitable and with an outstanding work ethic.”
- South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins on superb Springbok flanker Rueben Kruger, who died aged 39 in January 2010.

Then comes ...

* Inspiration (after the work has already begun)
Now let us look at this mental area in a bit more depth...

.
* Champions are intelligent people, who understand themselves – what motivates them and what “presses their hot buttons”. They know what inspires them and apply that knowledge. To do something about HOW to achieve their dreams .

* They possess the ability to compartamentalize their thinking.
A “meticulous mind”, being able to compartamentalize different aspects of their thinking. Like three-time world motor-racing champion Scotsman, Jackie Stewart said, they have great mind management skills .

Champions are mentally strong. With peak physical fitness comes mental strength.
They have very strong
* Mental application to the task at hand.
* Total focus and concentration:
They have a great ability to concentrate, ie. total focus (on the task at hand). Champion racing drivers, like Sebastian Vettel are different from other athletes in that he has the capacity to take control of many things and make numerous split-second decisions in precise time.

A chrystal-clear focus on attaining their objectives (short-medium and long-term), goals and dreams . However, their main focus is on the BIG long-term goals.

* Inner CONFIDENCE. .. and that is why the mental as aspect, the "top two inches" is critical to achievement and peak performance . Just trust the process!

* COURAGE (great)

”It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.Robert Francis Kennedy quotes (US Democratic politician, Attorney General and Adviser, 1925-1968)

* Unshakable belief: a passionate conviction in their abilities
Champions can bring out their “best stuff” at the right time, peaking at the biggest events.“When it ‘comes to the crunch’ on crucial points, he has the ability to raise his game. He has an extra gear and knows, really knows that he is still going to win. “
- Pete Sampras on Roger Federer

* A “cast-iron” will... the "will to win"
When the “chips are down”, true champions possess “true grit”, a fighting spirit to succeed against all the odds."Champions are not made in the gym… Champions need both WILL and skill. However, the will must be stronger than the skill.”
- Muhammad Ali

* “A “killer instinct” – the fighting ability to succeed at all costs.Failure is not something that defines who we are (as it inevitably happens to all of us along life’s journey). Failure is simply temporary occasions we have encountered along the road to eventual success. Failure doesn’t mean that you have failed – it’s just that you haven’t succeeded… YET!

SoFAIL YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!

“Just because you’ve failed doesn’t mean you are a failure”. We learn more from our failures than our successes.

“Failure is a hurdle, but far more importantly, the steppingstone on the path to glorious success.”

- craig

"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”- champion basket-baller, Michael Jordan

You only fail, if you quit!
* Tenacity (a spirit of tenacity in never giving up). Great!
A “champ” is down at times, but ever out!

* Consistency of performance. That is what characterised a person “at the very top of their game”.
They are extremely precise in whatever they do… and when in the zone” they display a “metronomic” consistency in performance.
They easily get into the rhythm, then maintain it for long periods.

* Integrity: Because, if you lose that, you’ve lost everything!
“Life is measured, not in years alone, but in achievement .”
- New Zealand Grand Prix driver, Bruce McLaren, tragically killed in a testing accident in 1970… and a humble, unassuming man of great integrity.

Finally… and most importantly,
Champions have a sense of destiny.
“Champs” love a sense of challenge. They are inspired to test their own boundaries, their personal ceilings… continually.

And YOU too can be a winner in the “game of life”
If you can dream it, then you can DO it.”
Then when you can Do it, you too can BE the champion of your own life!

“Shared by Craig Lock Eagle Productions
(“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Writer for Self Empowerment , Incorrigible Encourager, People-builder and Dreamer”)

“As the artist of your own life, you need a sense of destiny – no one will believe in you, if you can’t believe in yourself…first.”

Then as the Nike dad says,just DO IT!

Unlock YOUR potential. The sky is the limit!

“ sports -fanatic couch-pot-ato” craig

“Only when we’ve been in the deepest valley can know what it’s like to stand on the highest peak.”- I love those inspiring and empowering words from former US President, Richard Nixon

"Greatness is forged in the valleys of adversity and even occasional despair.”

In the midst of difficulties and severe hardship, say “this too shall pass and will work out for my ultimate good”.

“To live your life in your own way
To reach the goals you’ve set for yourself
To be the person you want to be -
That is success.”
- author anon

“There is one only one success: to be able to spend your life in your own way”- Christopher Morley

“The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to
sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”
- Charles Du Bos

“The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become.”
- Harold Taylor

“Together, one mind, one life at a time, let’s see how many people we can impact, empower , uplift and encourage to reach their fullest potentials.”

THESE THOUGHTS MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED

PPSTo dearest dad, see the dream never died. It just took another course!

As Woody Allen once said:“Life is what happens between making other plans!”

“The empires of the future are the empires of the mind”- Winston Churchill (in his speech to Harvard University in 1943)

"A champion is not a title, but a set of qualities: Champions aren't made in the gym. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - an inner flame that burns brightly...with dedication, purpose, desire and passion . True champions LIVE the dream, the vision of who and what they can one day become.... even a long time before it happens."
- me