Using elite sport as mindfulness.

[MarkJT]

With the AFL grand final today and the NRL grand final tomorrow, I wanted to drop a post and show that watching elite sport can be used as mindfulness.

I remember back in the 2013 AFL season, Geelong where playing North Melbourne at Etihad stadium. I was having real trouble controlling the anxiety being in a crowded and loud area but was able to keep myself grounded relatively well. I decided at one particular point that i was just going to concentrate on watching Jimmy Bartel, a Geelong player. Not watch the game as a whole, just follow Bartel.

What i found, or really stumbled upon, was a really good grounding technique to use. Because i was concentrating on Bartel so much, I actually relaxed somewhat. I then started to marvel at how skilled he was. I mean i always knew that he was a highly skilled player but I had a newfound appreciation of just how good he was. The ability to run flat out, pick up a ball, run some more and then kick it 40 odd meters with pin point precision was really good to watch. Watching the Melbourne Vixens in netball was awesome, so much skill in such a quick game. I am also a huge NFL fan. It is a massive game of chess, so complicated and yet so so skillful.

I know do this with pretty much all sport that i watch, either live or on the TV.

The next time you watch some kind of porting event, yes watch the game but really hone in on the skills that is required to actually play that game at that level.

[white knight]

Hi Mark

This is similar to when I saw the play "Miss Siagon". I was overwhelmed by the crowd waiting for the doors to open then many if us climbing the stairs of the Princess theatre Melbourne.

feeling anxious I focussed on the ladies jumper ahead of me. It had an interesting pattern. Its colours reminded me of the tropics which reminded me of Gilligan's Island.

Before I knew it I was seated and relaxed.

Mind diversion.

Great topic. A helpful topic.

Tony WK

[Just Sara]

Hi Mark and Tony;

Yes I agree; mindfulness is a gateway to a peaceful retreat from exacerbating fear of the unknown and too much 'self speak'.

It was a huge mountain for me though. I'd liken it to being in a room with 100 people standing in a circle around me, with me in the middle turning around frantically trying to focus on just one person.

I've posted recently about finally feeling like 'I exist'. Even my dr said she didn't realise this was what I felt and took her 'existence' for granted as she held her hand to her heart reflecting my own body language.

Mindfulness began for me by writing a problem in the middle of a page and circling it with red pen. I wrote issues relating to that problem around the outside and went away to relax. (My head's spinning now as I write!)

I'd return and create a fresh page with the same central point and then write positive comments around the outer of the page. What a difference it made! That was the beginning, but it did take some time to adapt to this new attitude.

People watching is indeed a great way to focus. I don't attend live events, but do enjoy TV and the safety it eludes; for now anyway. I'm venturing out bit by bit, a gentle way to progress.

Thanks Mark for a great thread! A wonderful and essential technique for recovery.

Dizzy xo

[MarkJT]

Dizzy, the words just just jumped out of the screen at me where, "I'm venturing out bit by bit...". That is so awesome. I encourage the people who i regularly deal with who are PTSD'd up to the eyeballs to make sure that they venture outside. Be that one step past the letter box and then tactically retreat. In a controlled fashion, just push your boundaries bit by bit. So pleasing to hear. Well done.

Tony, got triggered 10 mins into We Will Rock You, spent the next two and a bit hours battling flashbacks but once you get a handle on how to do it, you can successfully do it although i did pay some serious tax for it the next day! Brain juice was very low! (Brain juice = mental energy).

Is awesome when you look back at times you were triggered and successfully combated it.