[Music] [Applause]
in the fall of 2005 I find myself at the
in the fall of 2005 I find myself at the military world championship in shooting
military world championship in shooting
military world championship in shooting I’m in the lead in the final and I have
I’m in the lead in the final and I have
I’m in the lead in the final and I have one shot left to shoot the target is 50
one shot left to shoot the target is 50
one shot left to shoot the target is 50 meters away and the ten is ten point
meters away and the ten is ten point
meters away and the ten is ten point four millimeters what is it that
four millimeters what is it that
four millimeters what is it that determines if I shoot a nine or a ten is
determines if I shoot a nine or a ten is
determines if I shoot a nine or a ten is it the physics the technique the
it the physics the technique the
it the physics the technique the relaxation or the breathing no those are
relaxation or the breathing no those are
relaxation or the breathing no those are abilities that everybody at that level
abilities that everybody at that level
abilities that everybody at that level has been training for years it’s all
has been training for years it’s all
has been training for years it’s all about the thoughts I think and why I
about the thoughts I think and why I
about the thoughts I think and why I think them this is what focus is about
think them this is what focus is about
think them this is what focus is about when I was 23 years old I felt that I
when I was 23 years old I felt that I
when I was 23 years old I felt that I had a kind of capacity and inner drive
had a kind of capacity and inner drive
had a kind of capacity and inner drive and an energy that I didn’t really know
and an energy that I didn’t really know
and an energy that I didn’t really know how to handle and it frustrated me not
how to handle and it frustrated me not
how to handle and it frustrated me not knowing what to do or where to go in
knowing what to do or where to go in
knowing what to do or where to go in this world I was completely lost and the
this world I was completely lost and the
this world I was completely lost and the only solution I could think of was
only solution I could think of was
only solution I could think of was trying to become best in the world at
trying to become best in the world at
trying to become best in the world at something I had no idea in what but I
something I had no idea in what but I
something I had no idea in what but I decided to become a world champion I was
decided to become a world champion I was
decided to become a world champion I was quiet letting but my helpful brother
quiet letting but my helpful brother
quiet letting but my helpful brother pointed out that I was too old to become
pointed out that I was too old to become
pointed out that I was too old to become a world-class sprinter so I choose chip
a world-class sprinter so I choose chip
a world-class sprinter so I choose chip ting
this determination brought me into the
this determination brought me into the military
military
military arianna and since that very day I
arianna and since that very day I
arianna and since that very day I started my practice thousands of hours
started my practice thousands of hours
started my practice thousands of hours were spent on the shooting range I ate
were spent on the shooting range I ate
were spent on the shooting range I ate on the range I slept on the range and
on the range I slept on the range and
on the range I slept on the range and still today I can remember that smell of
still today I can remember that smell of
still today I can remember that smell of lead and loneliness I traveled all over
lead and loneliness I traveled all over
lead and loneliness I traveled all over the country competing for three years
the country competing for three years
the country competing for three years but I lost over and over again not
but I lost over and over again not
but I lost over and over again not getting any reward or recognition in my
getting any reward or recognition in my
getting any reward or recognition in my world I was programmed to win but I
world I was programmed to win but I
world I was programmed to win but I didn’t and I couldn’t understand how it
didn’t and I couldn’t understand how it
didn’t and I couldn’t understand how it could be so incredibly difficult it was
could be so incredibly difficult it was
could be so incredibly difficult it was only my perseverance that kept me going
in this very moment at the World
in this very moment at the World Championship aiming at the target with
Championship aiming at the target with
Championship aiming at the target with his irritatingly tight margins and these
his irritatingly tight margins and these
his irritatingly tight margins and these nervous thoughts running through my head
nervous thoughts running through my head
nervous thoughts running through my head this potential triumph could easily
this potential triumph could easily
this potential triumph could easily become yet another Jesco but then
become yet another Jesco but then
become yet another Jesco but then suddenly I saw and I focused on a
suddenly I saw and I focused on a
suddenly I saw and I focused on a beautiful autumn leaf playing in the
beautiful autumn leaf playing in the
beautiful autumn leaf playing in the wind I give this leaf my full attention
wind I give this leaf my full attention
wind I give this leaf my full attention and suddenly I am completely calm
and the world champion title is mine
and the world champion title is mine [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] this was this action was a deliberate
this was this action was a deliberate
this was this action was a deliberate choice and the result of persistent
choice and the result of persistent
choice and the result of persistent mental training because this leaf
mental training because this leaf
mental training because this leaf relieved me of distracting thoughts and
relieved me of distracting thoughts and
relieved me of distracting thoughts and made me focused and the phenomena are
made me focused and the phenomena are
made me focused and the phenomena are focused interested me more and more not
focused interested me more and more not
focused interested me more and more not only in peak performance but also in the
only in peak performance but also in the
only in peak performance but also in the longer perspective and in life in
longer perspective and in life in
longer perspective and in life in general
general
general I studied this vital capacity and what I
I studied this vital capacity and what I
I studied this vital capacity and what I saw was that the human mind struggled
saw was that the human mind struggled
saw was that the human mind struggled with focus on three distinctive ways
first our minds are often full of
first our minds are often full of disturbing thoughts often worried about
disturbing thoughts often worried about
disturbing thoughts often worried about not being good enough second instead of
not being good enough second instead of
not being good enough second instead of working with what we already know we are
working with what we already know we are
working with what we already know we are constantly focused on what we will
constantly focused on what we will
constantly focused on what we will achieve and third we are frustrated for
achieve and third we are frustrated for
achieve and third we are frustrated for not having time so how can we help
not having time so how can we help
not having time so how can we help ourselves with these problems well
ourselves with these problems well
ourselves with these problems well before we can discuss that we need to
before we can discuss that we need to
before we can discuss that we need to find out what focus is in today’s
find out what focus is in today’s
find out what focus is in today’s overflow with new waves and trends the
overflow with new waves and trends the
overflow with new waves and trends the ability to focus has been somewhat
ability to focus has been somewhat
ability to focus has been somewhat overlooked despite its great value it’s
overlooked despite its great value it’s
overlooked despite its great value it’s however a particularly complex function
however a particularly complex function
however a particularly complex function of our intelligent brain so let me
of our intelligent brain so let me
of our intelligent brain so let me simplify it for you the pre-eminently
simplify it for you the pre-eminently
simplify it for you the pre-eminently thinking human beings all of us in here
thinking human beings all of us in here
thinking human beings all of us in here I guess have the ability to think
I guess have the ability to think
I guess have the ability to think forward and backward in time and we
forward and backward in time and we
forward and backward in time and we often go down the alarming paths of
often go down the alarming paths of
often go down the alarming paths of thinking
thinking
thinking what happens if what happens if I shoot
what happens if what happens if I shoot
what happens if what happens if I shoot a nine if I forget what to say having a
a nine if I forget what to say having a
a nine if I forget what to say having a presentation if I don’t finish my report
presentation if I don’t finish my report
presentation if I don’t finish my report on time if I start losing followers on
on time if I start losing followers on
on time if I start losing followers on social media if life doesn’t turn out
social media if life doesn’t turn out
social media if life doesn’t turn out the way we had anticipated or we worry
the way we had anticipated or we worry
the way we had anticipated or we worry about why it didn’t turn out the way we
about why it didn’t turn out the way we
about why it didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to can we then at moments of
wanted it to can we then at moments of
wanted it to can we then at moments of need free ourselves from these
need free ourselves from these
need free ourselves from these disturbing and worrying thoughts a kind
disturbing and worrying thoughts a kind
disturbing and worrying thoughts a kind of undemanding present arise because
of undemanding present arise because
of undemanding present arise because it’s in this undermining present that we
it’s in this undermining present that we
it’s in this undermining present that we are focused it’s here that we perform
are focused it’s here that we perform
are focused it’s here that we perform and function exactly as well as we are
so standing there shaking with
so standing there shaking with nervousness but given that leaf my full
nervousness but given that leaf my full
nervousness but given that leaf my full attention this is what happened so focus
attention this is what happened so focus
attention this is what happened so focus is simply about choosing the right
is simply about choosing the right
is simply about choosing the right thought among thousands of thoughts now
thought among thousands of thoughts now
thought among thousands of thoughts now how do we get focused well firstly
how do we get focused well firstly
how do we get focused well firstly regarding the disturbing thoughts we
regarding the disturbing thoughts we
regarding the disturbing thoughts we need to learn to notice disturbing
need to learn to notice disturbing
need to learn to notice disturbing thoughts and to distinguish them from
thoughts and to distinguish them from
thoughts and to distinguish them from not disturbing thoughts a not disturbing
not disturbing thoughts a not disturbing
not disturbing thoughts a not disturbing thought is something completely neutral
thought is something completely neutral
thought is something completely neutral like a lamp a chair a belt a toaster or
like a lamp a chair a belt a toaster or
like a lamp a chair a belt a toaster or an autumn leaf because ask the brain in
an autumn leaf because ask the brain in
an autumn leaf because ask the brain in broad terms only can focus on one thing
broad terms only can focus on one thing
broad terms only can focus on one thing at a time and not disturbing thought
at a time and not disturbing thought
at a time and not disturbing thought knocks out all the disturbing and
knocks out all the disturbing and
knocks out all the disturbing and worrying thoughts and this is enough to
worrying thoughts and this is enough to
worrying thoughts and this is enough to reach that inner capacity we in fact
reach that inner capacity we in fact
reach that inner capacity we in fact already possess
second regarding how we constantly focus
second regarding how we constantly focus on what we will achieve in the
on what we will achieve in the
on what we will achieve in the performance-based society of today we
performance-based society of today we
performance-based society of today we often lose focus because we constantly
often lose focus because we constantly
often lose focus because we constantly strive towards the new and better
strive towards the new and better
strive towards the new and better instead of finding our inner power and
instead of finding our inner power and
instead of finding our inner power and constructively working with what we are
constructively working with what we are
constructively working with what we are best at at each given moment because if
best at at each given moment because if
best at at each given moment because if we always think about the goal about
we always think about the goal about
we always think about the goal about what we want to achieve but where we
what we want to achieve but where we
what we want to achieve but where we want to go about who we want to become
want to go about who we want to become
want to go about who we want to become our focus is constantly on the future
our focus is constantly on the future
our focus is constantly on the future and not on the work that needs to be
and not on the work that needs to be
and not on the work that needs to be done now so removing the goal now and
done now so removing the goal now and
done now so removing the goal now and then is not as crazy as it sounds well
then is not as crazy as it sounds well
then is not as crazy as it sounds well scary at first I mean where we’re going
scary at first I mean where we’re going
scary at first I mean where we’re going now but that is how focus ends up on who
now but that is how focus ends up on who
now but that is how focus ends up on who we are and what we have instead of
we are and what we have instead of
we are and what we have instead of chasing after what we are not and do not
chasing after what we are not and do not
chasing after what we are not and do not have so focus is not about the calming
have so focus is not about the calming
have so focus is not about the calming something new or something better but
something new or something better but
something new or something better but simply about functioning exactly as well
simply about functioning exactly as well
simply about functioning exactly as well as we already are and understanding that
as we already are and understanding that
as we already are and understanding that this is enough for both general
this is enough for both general
this is enough for both general happiness and great achievements third
happiness and great achievements third
happiness and great achievements third regarding frustration for not having
regarding frustration for not having
regarding frustration for not having time we live in a time within less
time we live in a time within less
time we live in a time within less possibilities around us and this seems
possibilities around us and this seems
possibilities around us and this seems to have created the notion that life
to have created the notion that life
to have created the notion that life must be lived intensely we try to exceed
must be lived intensely we try to exceed
must be lived intensely we try to exceed on all arenas at the same time and once
on all arenas at the same time and once
on all arenas at the same time and once self-confidence ends up on all that we
self-confidence ends up on all that we
self-confidence ends up on all that we do instead of placing focus on one thing
do instead of placing focus on one thing
do instead of placing focus on one thing in doing this really really well
in doing this really really well
in doing this really really well our focus shatters into a thousand
our focus shatters into a thousand
our focus shatters into a thousand little must dues and must-haves and time
little must dues and must-haves and time
little must dues and must-haves and time is somehow eaten up
but the principle is quite simple the
but the principle is quite simple the more possibilities the more there is to
more possibilities the more there is to
more possibilities the more there is to refrain from today is no longer about
refrain from today is no longer about
refrain from today is no longer about prioritizing but about prioritizing away
prioritizing but about prioritizing away
prioritizing but about prioritizing away imagine yourself sitting at your desk in
imagine yourself sitting at your desk in
imagine yourself sitting at your desk in the morning and making a must to-do list
the morning and making a must to-do list
the morning and making a must to-do list now challenge yourself and make a not to
now challenge yourself and make a not to
now challenge yourself and make a not to do list and your brain well thematic a
do list and your brain well thematic a
do list and your brain well thematic a shift in focus also it’s funny despite
shift in focus also it’s funny despite
shift in focus also it’s funny despite our unique ability to think long term we
our unique ability to think long term we
our unique ability to think long term we want immediate response on our efforts
posting a picture on social media for
posting a picture on social media for instance we live our life in short-term
instance we live our life in short-term
instance we live our life in short-term with short-term focus and we are losing
with short-term focus and we are losing
with short-term focus and we are losing the ability to build our own self-esteem
the ability to build our own self-esteem
the ability to build our own self-esteem without constant feedback from others so
without constant feedback from others so
without constant feedback from others so how do we find a long-term focus that
how do we find a long-term focus that
how do we find a long-term focus that focus that moves your life in the right
focus that moves your life in the right
focus that moves your life in the right direction achieving long-term focus
direction achieving long-term focus
direction achieving long-term focus requires that we learn to direct our
requires that we learn to direct our
requires that we learn to direct our attention inwards to that what I call
attention inwards to that what I call
attention inwards to that what I call our inner core to that which doesn’t
our inner core to that which doesn’t
our inner core to that which doesn’t need a constant response because it’s
need a constant response because it’s
need a constant response because it’s here and perhaps only here that we find
here and perhaps only here that we find
here and perhaps only here that we find genuine contentment and satisfaction
genuine contentment and satisfaction
genuine contentment and satisfaction with who we are
so why is all this so important to us
so why is all this so important to us all a focus is important because several
all a focus is important because several
all a focus is important because several essential abilities are linked to this
essential abilities are linked to this
essential abilities are linked to this innate skill the ability to listen to
innate skill the ability to listen to
innate skill the ability to listen to learn to empathize and not at least to
learn to empathize and not at least to
learn to empathize and not at least to steer ourselves in our life in the right
steer ourselves in our life in the right
steer ourselves in our life in the right direction and as the pace in our society
direction and as the pace in our society
direction and as the pace in our society will increase even more
will increase even more
will increase even more it will require quite a lot to navigate
it will require quite a lot to navigate
it will require quite a lot to navigate in this new unpredictable era with a
in this new unpredictable era with a
in this new unpredictable era with a constantly growing roar around us and
constantly growing roar around us and
constantly growing roar around us and you know what we must control the
you know what we must control the
you know what we must control the intensive intense society the intense
intensive intense society the intense
intensive intense society the intense Society must not control us and for this
Society must not control us and for this
Society must not control us and for this we need to stay sharp and focused but
we need to stay sharp and focused but
we need to stay sharp and focused but you know what I worried about I am
you know what I worried about I am
you know what I worried about I am concerned that our ability to steer our
concerned that our ability to steer our
concerned that our ability to steer our focus with our own power is something we
focus with our own power is something we
focus with our own power is something we are about to lose I’m worried that we in
are about to lose I’m worried that we in
are about to lose I’m worried that we in the future will see two groups of people
the future will see two groups of people
the future will see two groups of people those with the ability to co-exist and
those with the ability to co-exist and
those with the ability to co-exist and handle the intense Society and those who
handle the intense Society and those who
handle the intense Society and those who will become more or less slaves under
will become more or less slaves under
will become more or less slaves under the same possibilities although we as
the same possibilities although we as
the same possibilities although we as adults are struggling with our focus
adults are struggling with our focus
adults are struggling with our focus more than ever we still have a sense
more than ever we still have a sense
more than ever we still have a sense about what focus is but what about our
about what focus is but what about our
about what focus is but what about our coming generations
coming generations
coming generations what if our generation is the last one
what if our generation is the last one
what if our generation is the last one with access to this life-affirming tool
with access to this life-affirming tool
with access to this life-affirming tool here we own a responsibility in ensuring
here we own a responsibility in ensuring
here we own a responsibility in ensuring that disability is maintained in the
that disability is maintained in the
that disability is maintained in the future because focus this vital force is
future because focus this vital force is
future because focus this vital force is what brings out the best in ourselves
what brings out the best in ourselves
what brings out the best in ourselves and in others something our world so
and in others something our world so
and in others something our world so greatly this
now finally embrace the ability you have
now finally embrace the ability you have within your felt in yourself to be able
within your felt in yourself to be able
within your felt in yourself to be able to see the value of a small autumn leaf
to see the value of a small autumn leaf
to see the value of a small autumn leaf playing in the wind
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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