| The Focus and Flow Philosophy and Approach Here is what I know: everyone has the potential for greatness within them. But if, when, and how that greatness is actually manifested depends on three primary processes: (1) Being Consistently Excellent (2) Being Intensely Focused (3) Being Immersed in a State of Flow Let’s look at each of these processes. #1: BECOMING CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT at what you do depends on raw talent, the learning-mastery-growth cycle, and hard work. No one can dispute the strong influence of God-given gifts on the manifestation of greatness. But you must first know what your gifts are, and then you must make the choice to develop them. Outstanding coaches, instructors, mentors and others are absolutely critical ingredients for the learning-mastery-growth cycle. You are never so good that you can’t benefit from help to further elevate what you do. But "putting in the work", consistent and dedicated practice, is also required for optimal mastery of skills. Your internally-driven motivation is what will propel you to work so hard that you achieve beyond your wildest dreams. Hard work is actually the natural behavioral expression of being inspired, empowered, and energized. The Focus and Flow Approach contributes to the development of excellence by providing strategies that help you identify your strengths and gifts, mobilize the power of your mind, and energize the expression of the essence of who you are. #2: BECOMING INTENSELY FOCUSED depends on the development of mental strength and discipline. Many sports psychologists and performance coaches emphasize mental training. Mental training can optimize your level of skill mastery so that, at times of performance pressure, your abilities can be expressed to your absolute highest potential. However, mental training that focuses solely on cognitive skills only partially taps into the mind’s potential. Your mind is the integration of your mental, emotional and spiritual energy. When your mind is developed as an integrated whole, it is an amazing source of power. Developing and freeing the power of your mind requires intentionality, commitment, and consistent practice. The Focus and Flow Approach refers to this process as“Empowering Your Mind”. #3: BECOMING IMMERSED IN THE FLOW depends on achieving that state of complete and total engagement in the present moment during competition, performance, or creative production. You are neither troubled by past mistakes nor anxious about future outcomes. Flow takes you to a dimension that is much more than the perfect execution of skills in your sport or craft. Observers may say things like “he was possessed” or “she was in the zone”, or “he was unconscious”. However, the roots of achieving a flow state are in having a powerful connection to the purest essence of YOU, to your uniqueness, the core of who you are-- to your Soul. Flow happens when your mind is focused, your soul is energized, and you are “on”. In a state of flow you are truly one with what you are doing in the moment, with your sport, your craft. The Focus and Flow Approach refers to this process as “Energizing Your Soul”. Those who exhibit truly amazing levels of greatness are masters of all three processes: *Executing with Excellence* *Focusing the mind* *Experiencing flow* Think Kobe Bryant. He is not just great because he is highly skilled and intensely focused. It is his “Kobeness” that takes him to the next level. It is his ability to integrate his incredible skills and strong mental focus with the energy of his unique essence, the energy of his soul. This is what distinguishes The Focus and Flow Approach- it includes attention to expressing your soul through your sport or craft. The approach involves a unique combination of: (1) inspiration to ignite the fire within (2) mental training to enhance focus (3) a systematic psychological process to free the soul and find flow The Focus and Flow approach is grounded in research and informed by applications from performance and sports psychology, as well as neuroscience, positive psychology, humanistic psychology, and narrative psychology. The approach is inspired by my experiences as a dancer and choreographer in my youth; enhanced by my 2 decades of experience helping, healing, uplifting, and mentoring others as a therapist and university professor; and solidified through the experience of teaching meditation and visualization to a basketball team of elite young athletes over the past 4 years. Motivational speakers and books can get you fired up. However, it is your Focus and Flow the keeps the fire going strong. Focus and Flow strategies help to keep you in a dimension above fear, doubt, and anxiety. The approach can help you stop overthinking, stop worrying about mistakes, stop being overwhelmed by pressure, and stop trying to “be like Mike” (or like anyone other than yourself). As Russell Simmons says, “DO YOU”! Ultimately, it is when you are able to be consistently excellent, intensely focused, and immersed in a "do you" state of flow, that you will be able to access the greatness within you that is waiting to be found and set free. Are you ready to Focus and Flow? |
| Dr. Shelly P. Harrell Psychologist/Consultant/Life Coach |
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| When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. -Rumi |