by AmyD | Jun 16, 2017 | Success
ESPN just released its World Fame 100 list. It’s a list of the 100 most famous athletes in the world, rated according to several factors: endorsements, followers on social media, and number of Google searches. Here are the Top Ten professional athletes who have captured the imaginations of people everywhere:
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese soccer player for Real Madrid
- LeBron James, American basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Lionel Messi, Argentine soccer player for Barcelona
- Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player
- Phil Mickelson, American golfer
- Neymar, Brazilian soccer player
- Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter
- Kevin Durant, American basketball player for the Golden State Warriors
- Rafael Nadal, Spanish tennis player
- Tiger Woods, American golfer
What do they have in common? What is it about them that draws the attention of the entire world? It isn’t enough to be talented, to have achieved greatness. To go from greatness to eliteness takes a combination of confidence, commitment, grace, and the ability to alter your world simply by your energy and presence.
Commitment
Every athlete on the list is committed to their craft, to their fans, and above all, to themselves.
To be committed requires dedication, gratitude and focus for achieving your wildest ambitions. These athletes are committed to harnessing their mental and physical prowess, so that every game takes them one step closer to destiny.
They’re also committed to their fans, their teammates, and the entire professional sports industry. They express gratitude toward those whose energy and support have elevated them. LeBron James, who had fallen out of Cleveland’s favor for a spell, assured his hometown that he’d come back to them. That he always had their backs. It was a promise he kept.
Confidence
To have confidence in yourself means to meet obstacles and challenges head on. The most famous athletes hold their heads up high, no matter what their critics or their opponents say. They take constructive criticism from their coaches and their teammates as valuable information that will only strengthen their game. They have an optimism for the future and see challenges as opportunities for growth, not hindrances.
Cristiano Ronaldo has often been called arrogant or narcissistic. But it is precisely his self-confidence that allows him to brush off such negative remarks and be #1 on the list. People like Ronaldo believe in themselves, and maintain their momentum throughout their entire career. They never settle for less than what they know they’re capable of.
Grace
The athletes on the list have mastered their minds, bodies and spirits so that their every movement is purposeful and intentional. Lionel Messi is a good example of this powerful grace that some have described as almost unearthly.
When you train yourself mentally and spiritually, you go beyond your physical limits. Your body is in a state of increased intuition and awareness, where it can anticipate the movements of your opponents. You begin to think on your feet and are aware of your present surroundings in a way that places everything around you at your advantage.
Changing the World
All of the athletes on the list have altered the sports industry forever. They’ve set elite expectations for their teammates and future athletes. They’re carved out new standards for peak performance and what it takes to win. All eyes are on them, not just because they’ve made history. They continue to inspire every time they compete.
Commitment, confidence, grace, positive change… these are qualities that must be cultivated every single day. If you’re a professional athlete, you can take this natural gift you’ve been given and transform it into something even more powerful than before. Reach out to me, Amy D the Peak Performance Expert, to learn how you can set an elite standard for yourself and for others in your industry.
by AmyD | Apr 25, 2017 | Leadership, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Success
In my last blog post, I discussed how your emotions impact your physical health. Your body is an entire system of thought, that communicates with itself so it can heal from illness and injury. Right now I’d like to shed more light on how mental awareness and long term meditation not only impact your brain, but also your mental and physical performance.
Studies reveal that meditation has an age-defying impact on the the brain. Those who commit to long-term meditation have more gray matter in the regions of their brain that are responsible for sensory perception, memory and decision-making. Older meditators, around 50 years old, had the same amount of gray matter in their cortex as 25-year-olds.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a CEO, you can benefit from habitual meditation and awareness exercises, which not only strengthen your brain against the impacts of aging, but also increase your peak performance. Here’s how:
Hyper-Awareness
My clients who practice meditation and mental awareness report dramatic, positive changes in their perceptions. Through a disciplinary practice, they’ve cultivated a mindset that is clear, free from distraction, and responsive to changes in their environment. My professional athletes in particular have integrated mental awareness into their physical training regimen. The increased awareness of their surroundings allows them to anticipate their opponent’s next move with more precision than before. They know the drill. They can predict, with laser-like accuracy, when their opponent is interrupting the flow that they’ve established through their mental and physical rituals.
This altered state, called a “flow state” by experts, elevates them to a peak performance that gives them the ultimate advantage over their opponent.
Physical Well-being
Meditation inhibits chemicals like cortisol, which are associated with chronic stress. Stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine wreak havoc on our bodies, and keep our brains from sustaining that healthy gray matter so crucial to our mental focus and our memories. Chronic stress also creates a buildup of negative energy in our bodies which increase wear-and-tear. It’s why some professional athletes report being more injury prone when they’ve stopped meditating or practicing mental awareness.
Long term meditation can act as preventative for the harmful stress placed on the body. Discipline in the art of meditation and mental awareness allows you to react quickly and gracefully to everything around you. You begin to “think on your feet,” which prevents career-ruining injuries and promotes the holistic healing of your body, mind, and spirit.
If you’re in a career that requires you to be on top of your game, at all times and all places, meditation and mental conditioning is what puts you at a competitive advantage. Ask me about Peak Performance Mentoring that can catapult you to a place among the elites. Visit my contact page or email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!
by AmyD | Mar 15, 2017 | Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Success
A little over a month ago, Nike and Jordan brand released their 2017 Black History Month (BHM) collection. The design is breathtaking, highlighted by a bold yet sleek blend of color and texture symbolizing strength, harmony, and unity.
Why am I talking about shoes? Because for me, Nike’s annual BHM collection is a reminder of my personal mantra. Be the positive reflection you want to see in the world.
This advice is what I pass on to my clients as well. I mentor some of the most elite people in the world, from CEOs to professional athletes. Like the people behind Nike and Jordan brand, my clients are in a powerful position to use their creative vision to change the world for the better. You can too. Here’s how.
Expand Your Vision
Years ago, the BHM collection started from just one Nike Air Force 1 to an entire product line. The BHM collection’s message has also evolved over time, expanding from the celebration of black athletic accomplishments to the overall legacy of black leadership and achievement. Now, the collection also provides charity support with Nike’s Ever Higher Fund, and encourages others to create positive change within and beyond their communities.
You too can start small, planting a seed of positive impact and continuing to nurture it until its reaches its fruition!
Sow The Seeds Of Your Future
Even the most successful among us know that it is not enough to accumulate strictly material wealth. We, as interconnected human beings, wonder whether we are using our God-given talents to make a lasting difference in the world. Like many of my clients you are probably deeply invested in your legacy, of leaving the world a better place than when you entered it.
To achieve that, you have to re-frame your old ideas about success. True abundance, as opposed to purely material success, is all-enveloping. By committing yourself to charitable or philanthropic ventures, you ensure that your legacy is one marked by vision and inspiration. You becomes the positive reflection you want to see in the world, long after you leave it.
That’s why it is so important to prepare yourself for such a future, right here and right now.
Be A True Leader
As many professional athletes will attest, sports isn’t just about “the game.” It’s also about being a living inspiration. It’s about acting as a mirror that reflects the virtues of leadership, cooperation and dedication to a dream. The world feeds off that positive energy, creating a motivating ripple effect.
Philanthropic, charitable entrepreneurship is one way of securing your legacy as a role model and a visionary. The professional athletes who donate their time and resources to strengthen their communities are ensuring that their influence is spread far and wide.
The BHM collection is just one example of how professional athletes, marketers, businesspeople and non-profits can come together for the common goal of bettering the world. You too can be one of those leaders whose vision and legacy impacts every person you come in contact with. Learn more about my Energy Assessments for Leaders today to see where your heart is aligned, and how you can make this dream happen.
by AmyD | Jan 17, 2017 | Choices, Mindfulness, Success
What usually comes to mind when we think about addiction is the compulsive consumption of unhealthy substances like fatty food, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. While many of us take pride in avoiding these harmful habits, we rarely think about our mental addictions that can have the same debilitating impact on our mood, our personal and professional relationships, and our physical health.
Almost everyone I know has felt that obsessive urge, a persistent compulsion, to check our phones or laptops for the latest email or social media update. Some of us also struggle with peeling our eyes from our television or stepping away from our video games. In short, we as a society are fixated, addicted to anything with a screen.
What’s also shocking is that nearly everyone I’ve spoken to wishes they were less attached to their devices and more engaged with the world around them. The problem is that our digital devices actually serve an important purpose in our lives- connecting with others.
Fortunately, I am offering three ways you can gently unplug while still using technology for what’s it worth.
Set Boundaries
In my videos, I talk about the importance of setting boundaries so that you keep your mind focused on fulfilling your life’s highest calling. Thanks to technological advances, we are able to reach out to virtually everyone and anyone at any time, which makes respecting others’ boundaries very difficult. For the sake of your own peace and clarity, you must decrease others’ expectations that- through texting or social media messaging- you will always be available to them. Set a time during the day when you’re available to others, both personally and professionally, and times when you are not. If you get a text in the evening from a co-worker, explain that you’ll take care of it first thing in the morning. These boundaries are necessary if you’re to maintain a positive, balanced energy.
Stressed? Put Down the Gadgets
By not setting boundaries between yourself and the digital mediums through which everyone can contact you, you put yourself at risk of burning out. Workaholics and other people who push themselves to the brink of collapse, in both their professional and personal lives, can be successful… up to a point. They have yet to achieve the kind of long-term, sustainable, world-altering elite success that they were clearly meant for. To truly capitalize on all of your strengths, to be fully invested in long-term gain, you must know when to replenish your energy.
When you’re stressed out, anxious, frustrated or bored, put down the technology. Turn off the screens. Put your smart phone on sleep mode. Set aside time for deliberate rest, which will increase your physical and mental capacities when you’re ready to start up again. Mental clarity and focus is necessary to achieve the vision you have for your future, and you can only do that by taking a break from digital distractions.
Stop Using Technology To Multi-Task
Research has proven that no one is good at multi-tasking, no matter what people may say. Human beings are most productive when they’re mindfully focused on the challenge at hand, not having their attention pulled in different directions. Unfortunately, our computers, televisions, and especially our smart phones make it difficult for us to focus intently on one task without being driven to distraction. Those shiny screens are meant to draw our attention away from the possibilities of the here-and-now. Don’t let it happen.
To quote Nike, just do it. When you’ve set yourself up for accomplishing a goal, big or small, you must make a mental commitment to finish what you started. You can’t do that if you’re distracted by texts, social media updates, or clickbait. Take a moment to pause and reflect on the work you ought to be doing this very moment, whether it’s accomplishing a certain goal or simply being present in the world.
As the Peak Performance Expert, I can help you find new ways to mindfully approach your life so that your mind, body and spirit are all on the same team. Ask me how Peak Performance Mentoring or Team Peak Performance Training can help you re-focus your attention on your endgame – which is to be the very best you can be.
by AmyD | Jan 5, 2017 | Entrepreneurship, Faith, Leadership, Spirituality, Success
For some of us, integrity is one of the highest of personal values. To speak our own truths, that come from within our open heart, is what allows us to continue our path toward self-realization. By practicing integrity in all that we say and do, we ensure that our greatest mission in life will be fulfilled. That mission is to bring our unique gifts and talents to an ever-receiving universe.
Let me show you several ways you can remained focused and dedicated to your life’s mission.
Take Other People’s Opinions With a Grain of Salt
Sometimes other people’s narratives or perceptions of how we are can distract us from the truth about ourselves. While the beliefs that others have may be enlightening in some ways, in that they reveal different sides of ourselves we may have been blind to, sometimes those beliefs are false and get in the way of our highest calling. Those beliefs are a distortion of what we actually stand for, in our heart of hearts.
Accept the opinions and beliefs that others have about you as information, not hard-and-fast truth. It can be helpful to hear how you are perceived by others, but it can also hinder you. Don’t let it.
Claim Who You Are
By claiming who you are, as a unique, un-repeatable miracle of God and the universe, you can better visualize what your mission in life is.
Here’s an exercise to help you. Write down a series of affirmations that lay claim to this powerful, positive energy that is yours. In one of my videos, I give you an example of a specific writing exercise that, while short, will help you visualize the qualities that make you a superhero, a person on a exhilarating mission.
Are you godly? Are you giving? Are you loving? Are you loved? You will never find out unless you ask yourself. Make this a habitual spiritual practice and in time you’ll be able to visualize your mission and regain the energy needed to perform your important service in the world.
Be Intentional and Have Conviction
What does it mean to be intentional or full of conviction, and how does it relate to being on a mission? Intentionality is a word to describe mindful focus. When you’re intentional, you are fixing your mind’s eye on the object in front of you- in this case, your mission. By focusing mindfully on that desired object, you actually align your entire being in the direction of its fulfillment. Intentionality is a psychic commitment that brings you closer to reaching your destiny.
You also need to have conviction if you’re to fulfill your mission in life. What good is having a mission if you don’t feel it with all of your mind, body, and spirit? To live life with conviction, you must walk and talk with integrity. If you do that, I promise you this – fulfillment will come sooner than you ever imagined.
I believe that everyone’s mission in this life is to be the positive reflection they want to see in the world. What that positive reflection is will differ from person to person, depending on every precious individual’s unique, irreplaceable strengths and talents. You can discover what these gifts are, what your mission is in life, and see to it that it is achieved starting today.
Reach out to me to begin a new chapter in your journey.
by AmyD | Sep 30, 2016 | Faith, Spirituality, Success
“Whatever you can dream, you can do.” You’ve heard this statement before, but did you know it that it’s an actual fact about the universe? Each of us has the power to alter reality through our thoughts.
History’s brightest geniuses, from Steve Jobs to Henry Ford to Martin Luther King Jr., have changed the course of our world in dramatic ways. They were able to do this because they understood that there are two kinds of reality: perceived reality and objective reality.
What is perceived reality and objective reality? At first glance, the difference lies between a single individual’s finite perception, and what is “real” or factual about the universe. However, it is subtler than that. Perceived reality can be either individual or shared. It is the reality that grounds our objective experiences of the world outside of us. Perceived reality isn’t separate from objective reality- it is what gives objective reality its shape.
A good example of this is the concept of money. If you stop and think about it, money only exists in our perceptions. While it does take on a physical characteristic- like paper or a plastic credit card- it only does so because human beings have given it that quality. The concept of money, as an equal exchange for something else, is born entirely out of our human imagination.
At the same time, our lives are deeply impacted by issues surrounding money. We spend most of our day trying to accumulate money, so we can either save it in case of a life-altering event, or spend it on the things that matter to us in the moment. Because most humans have accepted money as a real, useful thing, it has becomes an essential part of our objective reality.
Biocentric Theory and the Power of Positive Thinking
There is no limit to how perceived reality impacts objective reality. Quantum physics and biocentric theories of the universe have proven that our perceived reality is the key to unlocking our full potential. Negative perceptions are the only thing that keeps us from ultimate success.
How do you use this new understanding of human potential to make changes in your personal life and your career?
In a recent video, I talk about the power of words to alter reality. It isn’t just what you say that will materialize into an abundant objective reality, but also what you think and what you envision. Take this example:
Negative Perception of Reality: “I don’t have any money.” “I can’t afford that.”
To say you don’t have any money is another way of saying you can’t afford to invest in yourself. It is a negative perception of reality that will prevent you from achieving your highest potential. Instead of reiterating what is lacking, make positive statements about your situation that reflects what you want, what will happen. More importantly, by saying you don’t have the money, you are settling for a limited understanding of your own resources. You are discounting all of the immeasurable resources the universe has already given you that can’t be reflected in your bank account.
Positive Perception of Reality: “I’m working toward having that amount of money in my bank account.” “I will have more money.” “I already have the money. I need to re-assess my financial priorities.” “I have other resources besides money.”
By saying you are working toward a goal, you are acknowledging that it will happen. By acknowledging that you could reassess your financial priorities, you are thinking about money and its symbolic value in a new way. The resources you thought you didn’t have, were always available to you. A new objective reality has been created simply by reframing your beliefs.
Negative Perception of Reality: “I don’t have enough time.” ”
Positive Perception of Reality: “I have all the time in the world.” “I’m re-prioritizing how I spend my time.”
The saying “time is money” is true, in that the concept of time is as malleable as the concept of money. If you waste your energy thinking negatively about the time you don’t have, you will never take the reasonable steps to re-assess how you ought to spend your time. Engagement with those negative thought patterns is literally a time-waster.
These are just two ways that you can alter your perceived reality, and make dramatic changes in your objective reality. If you’d like more assistance in creating a new reality for yourself, based on Biocentric Theory, contact me about my Bioenergetic Sessions.
The only thing keeping your from achieving your every desire and more is the limitation of your own thoughts. Contact me, AmyD, today to break free of these limits, and achieve your highest potential.
