By Mike Johnson
I’ve always believed bowling is the easiest sport to go professional.
It’s just you and your body.
Repeating the same motions.
On a fixed target, at a fixed distance, in a climate-controlled, weatherproof building.
They even let you use your own ball and shoes!
The only real variable is the amount of oil on the lanes.
It's not a physically-demanding sport.
After every shot or two you get to rest.
Eat a sandwich.
Drink a beer.
Watch how that lane oil affects your competitor.
I’m certain that if fully committed, any well-coordinated person could “pin” down the physical skills needed to excel.
But then there’s the invisible mental aspect.
Those who excel in sports have extra gears of focus, clarity and certainty.
I’m six years older than my youngest brother.
He’s physically larger and stronger.
When playing others, he’s better than me in every sport.
But not when he plays me.
Being older, I beat him in every sport during his entire childhood.
The pattern was set.
He knew he was going to lose.
I was certain I was going to win.
The pattern continues today.
Ping-pong, cornhole, touch football.
When it comes down to crunch time, I always find the extra gear needed to win.
He always chuckles, shakes his head in defeat, knowing it was coming.
I’m in his head.
And certainty is in mine.
The top professionals in every sport have that level of certainty against EVERYONE.
That’s the invisible mental toughness that surpasses bodily talent.
This certainty increases with practice, experience, visualization, self-discipline, focus and confidence.
In effect, you WILL it to happen, certain it WILL happen, because it has happened so many times in the past.
At first, this certainty takes all your force, grit, adrenaline and amplified personal power.
But as you evolve, it just happens effortlessly.
It's the casual certainty of mastery.
We're no longer talking about bowling.
I love those videos where the cocky, young muscular guy makes the mistake of goading the grizzled old guy.
The old guy shows no emotion other than steely awareness.
The young guy, too full of himself and too empty of experience, takes things one step too far.
He never sees the old guy's right uppercut.
He just feels the back of his skull cracking against the pavement as his lights go out.
Most people have developed some area of mastery.
Find yourself on their alley and you'll be surprised when they strike.
You're going to get your ass kicked and never see it coming.
Your dabbling, got rolled by their certainty.
Their invisible mental certainty.
What have you mastered?
What are you certain about?
Perhaps you should spend more time in that lane.
###
More:
By Mike: Real Bowlers Do It in the Alley
###
Back to Mike's Warm, Wealthy Wisdoms
Back to Mike's Website, WorldsBestWriter.com