The Brain and Motion

I had the opportunity to hear Jeff Triplette, Head Referee for the NFL, speak at a conference recently. He told of his early days in the NFL—sprinting with athletes double his size, running and weaving as fast as a snake set afire. How could he catch these guys in an error? Make the right call? Jeff asked his mentor these questions and the advice was simple, “You gotta watch the game in slow motion.”

Let’s face it. Most of us live in the fast lane—going like 90, 24/7; doing more with less; meeting unheard of deadlines, managing unbelievable workloads. How do we slow down? What exactly is the speed of motion our brains require to see the total picture? It’s the momentum, for example, we experience when we trip and our bodies ever so slowly fall to the ground. We have enough time to see exactly where we’ll land and what obstacles are in the way. That’s the kind of slow motion our brains need to react. Let’s consider the following tips to help us see conflict in slow motion to equip us to make the right call:

A Tip from Mr. Triplette (used with permission): “You learn to ‘see things in slow motion’ when you concentrate and focus your entire attention on a particular object or thing—like the movement of a baseball (can you see the seams as it’s traveling 90 mph, or following the pea in a shell game)—you must focus your ENTIRE attention on the object or thing at hand to the exclusion of all other things.  ONLY then does one begin to master the art of seeing things in slow motion.

“The brain and eyes are wonderful things—they can process so much information that when one focuses them on only one item the power is overwhelming.  Try it.  It takes practice and relaxation—you’ll know when you have it because you will see things you've never seen before.”

Norman Vincent Peale: In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.

 

Take a step back. Instead of seeing the problem up close, step back, see the whole picture. Get a better view of the problem. Allow more space between you and conflict: Room to think. Create a distance that allows you to size up a situation. Like a photographer, who tries to fit a large group into a small photo frame, she steps back to expand the size of the camera’s frame. She can now make the right call on who needs to move where and how much.

Take a deep breath. Slow breathing enhances our bodies with a supply of oxygen. It is essential for the integrity of the brain, nerves, glands, organs. The brain requires more oxygen than any other organ. Mental sluggishness, negative thoughts and depression are signs that our oxygen intake is low. Purposely slowing our breathing cycle lowers blood pressure and keeps us at a place of balance. Try this simple technique: Inhale gradually to the count of five. Now exhale as slowly to the same count: In...2...3...4...5; Out...2...3...4...5. Give it another try, this time close your eyes. Let go of all distractions. Own this moment—a gift to replenish.

Saint Francis De Sales: Do not lose your inward peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

Brain Hygiene

A healthy brain is much like a refreshed and sparkling mouth. Remember how clean your mouth felt after a professional cleaning? Oral hygiene goes beyond the care of our teeth. Its impact extends to our entire mind and body. Several researchers from the Kansas Medical Center and the University of Missouri have identified oral health problems in people with mental illness and have suggested that the cornerstone of any treatment strategy should be preventive dental education. Bacteria from an unkempt mouth not only reek like a herd of camels; those germs can slide down your throat and affect your heart. So the fix is simple: Floss, Brush, Gargle! What about preventive care for the brain? It, too, is subject to a state of unbalance that can be triggered by a bad report from a child’s teacher, a doctor, a boss, Wall St., Main St, etc. Before stress grips us with dis-ease, let’s consider the following brain hygiene regimen: Time Management, Integrity and Happiness.

Time Management: Usage of time shouldn’t be defined as “quantity,” but as “quality.” It means getting the most value out of the least amount of time. It’s being focused on the task at hand, not allowing distracting thoughts or interruptions to compromise the quality of time while playing with a child, coaching an employee, enjoying a good book. Time is irredeemable. We can’t go back to yesterday to recoup the time lost. However, we can manage—with quality—the time we have. Be a good steward of your time. Find your purpose for today and live every minute of it.

Robert Updegraff: To get all there is in living, we must employ our time wisely, never being in too much of a hurry to stop and sip life, but never losing our sense of the enormous value of a minute.

Integrity: When you do what’s right, you perform at your optimum. Integrity escorts us into a life of courage, a place of contented well-being. Doing the right thing will never fail you. So, follow your heart—make those tough choices. When you do the right thing, don’t let it go unrecognized. Validate your accomplishment, say, “Good job!” Always reinforce the behavior you want to see in yourself. A life of integrity may be a steep climb, but the reward is like soaring on wings like eagles to a higher ground.

Theodore Roosevelt: In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

Happiness: Our body and mind weren’t designed to live with the aggravation of worry. Rather, we are called to realize our potential and to become alive with happiness. But sometimes we get tangled in stress where worry robs our joy. What’s the fix? Recognize that at the core of stress is fear. To rid the stress, give fear a name. Now you can better focus on a solution. Happiness is something we prepare for in our minds. Arrange your mind in the right direction. It’s waking in the morning, determined to have a good day. It’s putting on the garment of joy and shedding the heaviness of life. When there seems to be no way, joy paves the way for hope.

Bill Gatherd, Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts: Worry is responsibility God never intended us to have.

A Daily Brain Hygiene Regimen: Time Management, Integrity, Happiness!  Are you up for the challenge?