B02. Mindfulness

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Do you ever find yourself thinking about things other than your performance during a competition, or are you unable to concentrate because even the slightest change can shake your emotions? Sometimes , thoughts naturally come to our minds ( automatic thoughts ), and based on those thoughts, our thoughts continue to flow (autopilot), and our emotions change along with them . For example, if you think of something worrying you might happen in the future, you become anxious, and thoughts to solve it start to flow on their own, and you start to feel anxious, thinking, "I have to do this, I have to do that" (I'm in "I have to do it mode"). Or, you may be influenced by your automatic thoughts and make a quick decision , which may lead to good or bad results. During a competition, such thoughts and emotions may make your performance unstable . It is important to practice mindfulness in preparation for such times.

Mindfulness involves calmly acknowledging the thoughts, emotions, and sensations that arise naturally, without trying to pursue, argue, or change them, focusing your awareness on what is happening to you in the present moment , and accepting reality.

For example, if you sit and concentrate on breathing in and out , various things will naturally come to mind, your thoughts will progress, and your emotions will become agitated . At that time, you should "objectively evaluate " your thoughts and emotions, such as "Oh, I'm worried," "I'm depressed," or "I'm anxious," and then return your attention to the "now" moment , which is your breathing , and realize that "Ah, that's right, air is going in and out."

Long-distance marathon runner Suguru Osako says, " One wasted movement can affect the end ." If you get "upset" when someone sprints and make a small spurt to keep up, it becomes a small waste of movement, and those wasted movements accumulate and the gap grows, eventually becoming a big gap. As a countermeasure, he has decided to " look at himself objectively " (SportsPicks 2020/5/29 [Suguru Osako] Face and understand your own "reality"). He recognizes the thoughts and changing emotions that naturally arise, but does not pursue, argue, or try to change them, but leaves them as they are and focuses on the task he is currently doing . In the case of a marathon, this means leaving the various thoughts and emotions that arise while running as they are, for example, and continuing to run at a rhythm.