Relax and focus
August 17, 2008 by Marguerite Orane
Filed under Be Present
Will I ever tire of watching Usain Bolt winning Olympic Gold and breaking the 100m Men’s world record? I think not – just 24 hours later, I must have watched the replay at least 24 times! (The only thing that can top his run is Jamaica’s clean sweep of the Women’s 100m – 1, 2, 3 – sorry 1, 2, 2 as we have been awarded gold and two silver!) More than just watching him run, I love the way he is enjoying himself – the dropping of the arms, the beating of his chest (“ah mi dat”), the high stepping even before he crossed the line – here is a man who is living in the moment and enjoying it. He has no thought about what he could have done, how much faster he could have gone. He is simply present to the moment – his moment. How wonderful to watch his childlike spirit – this is what happens when you are present – you experience the joy and ecstacy that happens so often in childhood, but that somehow we lose as we “grow up”. I hope Bolt never ever loses it. I hope he never “grows up”.
As I listened to his interviews, I have been struck in particular by two words that he repeats – “relax” and “focus”. “I am always relaxing” – note that he speaks in the present perfect tense. He is telling himself all the time – relax, relax, relax. When one relaxes, one loosens tension and is able to flow, muscles and indeed the entire body lightening and lengthening. Now the body is ready to do one’s will. But Bolt is not just relaxing for the sake of relaxing – he is relaxing with a purpose and clear focus – “I came out to be a champion”. This is the human spirit at its’ best, and Usain’s body had no choice but to follow. Focus channels energy. Energy channelled into a body that is relaxed, present and ready? Well, we saw the result in Beijing!
This is how to achieve excellence in any area that we choose – focus, relax, stay present and enjoy the moment! Then, life will be a beautiful ride, and you can achieve the most amazing feats in fun and style!
to quote you from this post ”This is how to achieve excellence in any area that we choose – focus, relax, stay present and enjoy the moment! Then, life will be a beautiful ride, and you can achieve the most amazing feats in fun and style!”
As mere humans this is at times the very hardest thing to achieve – focus and relax particularly.
What is your advice, when things start to unravel around you?
Thanks for your comment. You are so right – it is very hard to focus and relax when things start to unravel around us. Our challenge is to make sure that we do not get wrapped up in and internalise the unravelling – for therein lies our own unravelling. Note your words “when things start to unravel around you” – you recognise that the unravelling is not you, it is external to you. So, recognise that you have a choice and this is it – go with the unravelling, or stop, breathe (the source of relaxation) and refocus. Sounds simple I know, and it is – but NOT easy!
I really do find that yoga has helped me a lot to become aware of my breath and to give me breathing options. So that’s one very practical thing you can do.
Thank you for your kind response. It is indeed nice to have persons like yourself who answer with a touch of reality.
The world needs a lot more of you out here..
A committed reader to your blog now.