Note from Iraq

Date: Weds, 16 November 2005

I received this email after my last newsletter, and thought I’d pass it on.

Rob,
Your email couldn't have landed at a better time. I am currently working in Iraq doing security work and tomorrow we are taking off an a job that promises to be a doozy. the nerves are kicking in and your email reminded me not to concentrate on what might happen but concentrate on what i will do. Breathing and thinking cleanly has helped focus on the positives of anything occuring and although we don't have much time to train over here the phillosophy of implementing your thought patterns into eveything we do is great advice. Cheers K.R.

Most of us don’t have to use our martial arts training in situations like the one above – but whatever we do, the focus learned through martial arts training should help us do it better.

Here’s another tip to help prepare yourself for that big sparring match, security mission, audition, job interview, etc.

When you picture yourself doing well, don’t just see yourself doing well, hear yourself doing well, smell the room you’ll be in, feel your muscles move and so on.  In other words, involve as many senses as possible to make the imagery more real.

Try this with anything right now.  Seriously.  Imagine yourself  being extra alert in your meeting this afternoon.  Imagine yourself radiating happiness to see your family when you go home this evening.  It doesn't need to be a major event.

Until next time,

Train like you mean it,

Rob LaPointe