Kayaking for me demands a very nice balance between calmness (*) and focus (*).via On Giving Your Everything - Adam van Koeverden / YouTube (*).
It's funny, because you are super calm and focused, at the same time there is a lot going on in your body.
Things are starting to break down and hurt.
At the same time my fingers are calm and gentle on the paddle.
It's pretty meditative.
Sure, you are playing a professional sport and you want to be a success. But life is more important than any game or any sport. I'm really big on getting closer as a Bulls group - we are almost like a family - and we want to look after each other outside the game, not just within the game. I've told the players they can't leave the ground for at least an hour after play. We talk about a whole heap of things - it might be cricket but it might be something else. There were some players who used to leave within five minutes. It works well; we all just enjoy each other's company and that is probably the best thing we have got going.via Headmaster of mateship (*) by Will Swanton (*).
A Team is a Powerful ThingAlways make me laugh when I think of that. The wisdom of a three year old.
I accept that everyone I love will die. I accept that grief (*) will break me open time and time again.via The Geography of Loss: A Conversation with Curator Laurel Reuter and Artist Rebecca Norris Webb (*).
I also accept that if I can pick up my camera (*) and head out into the landscape, I can create even during the darkest and most devastating times of my life. I find some peace (*) in this.
[..] I am not afraid to fail because failure (*) breeds success (*). Strange as it is, making an incredibly bad photograph, and be painfully aware of it, means you hit rock-bottom. This sets up a series of challenges to break into a new territory. It is frightening [..]via Stephen DiRado (*) by Two Way Lens (*).
Deep down I always wanted a greater connection and loved to explore. This happened in many areas.via A Wanderers Update (*) by Drew Ginn (*).
Exploring thought process, movement patterns, biases, relationships, failure and obvious exploring success.
I really stuffed up more than I care to remember. Many mistake were made and the surprise is that I kept at it when many others gave up, left, changed their plans.
I stayed the course, and in one sense it was just the course, which probably was unclear to others yet, I knew I was seeking a better way, greater, intending (*) and learning (*).
Mastery (*) then is key I think as its takes the performance from simply doing and achieving or not to becoming more aware, intending (*), taking action, making mistakes (*) and making it count, and reviews (*).
Mastery (*) dare I say it is a journey and never the destination.
It’s the joy in striving for perfection, the working towards the best, to be the best and yet the result is not just best but a newer version or a reshaping of things.
Strange how I can see all that striving was the best part and when I watch other not full enjoying the striving I find myself wondering how I can assist in the unearthing of the mind shift from result to mastery seeking.
Sure I get the need to get the results and after having a few results fall my way its easier to state these words.
What I realise is that some time ago just learning (*) become the many motive
The real pleasure of winning (*) comes not from beating someone else but from achieving all that you are capable of in that particular moment of competition (*).via What keeps you going as an athlete? About Mastery Motivation (*) by Jonathan Males (*).
Focusing (*) on your own performance (*), on the water, [..] makes it easier to perform (*) at big events, when there is a risk of becoming distracted (*) by other people's expectations (*) or the lure of "fame (*) and glory (*)".
No one makes it to the top without overcoming obstacles that would push most people to quit. It is that mental determination (*) and the ability to endure that makes the difference between success (*) and failure (*).via The Power of Perseverance (*) by Shawn Heidgen (*).
To do what you like in your work, separate from the buzz. [..]From A few ways to increase your connection to your photography (*) by Kirk Tuck (*) - Thu 23 Feb 2012.Having a project will move you to take chances. [..] You'll need to discipline yourself to do the [..] And you'll need to learn how to finish.
- slow down [..] If you slow down and concentrate on the kinds of images that bring you real joy you'll find a tighter bond with your own work.
- Stop looking at all the sharing sites - When you turn off the outside influences and sit quietly with your own thoughts about art and photography you begin to understand the way you like to see and share art. That's valuable. Everything else is unconscious imitation.
- Do a project - Consistency of vision and subject are worthwhile goals for all artists. Set yourself to the task of creating a body of consistent work. Choose a subject that you love and explore it in depth. Ignore everything else.
- When you choose to do a project have a a goal - Wouldn't it be great if it changed some lives? But no matter where it ends up I will have met interesting people who've taken charge of their own lives and excelled. What fun role models. And the art will be my souvenir of my time spent with them. The prints will be part of the sharing.
- Start thinking beyond the screen - [..] When you slow down and do your art try to go through the whole process of bringing an image to life before you rush out the door to fill up more memory cards and hard drives.
- Really explore the images in front of you. Edit them down. Make them perfect and then print them large [..] Print them till you love them. And learn from the process of presentation. Learn what you like to see, big. The art becomes both portable and present when you pull it off the screen and onto paper. Be sure to go through the whole process so you understand in your gut what you've really created. It will slow you down [..] and focus it on doing work that makes you smile. You are the first audience.
- Finally, forget the online critiques - Find people in your own town, city, region whose work you admire and approach them about forming a sharing circle. Just like a writer's group.
Having a goal for your work gives it extra meaning.
Sharing the work with live people standing in front of you builds real confidence in the work. Having real critiques is painful but helps engender real growth. Helping real, human, non-virtual friends succeed with their own art is part of a rewarding virtuous circle. Embrace it.
iNflating or deFLating confidence happens all the time. Do you notice how others can have such and influence on your own confidence, and that is not to mention how much your own self talk can magnify what others say and do. [..]via Confidence Balloons(*)o by Drew Ginn (*).
I have reflected on moments during my life when someone has said something that has boosted my confidence and when someone has drained my confidence with something they have said.
[..] Without question, without doubtvia Lanterns (*) by Birds of Tokyo (*).
In the light (*) that we have found
It is finally clear
Our day has come
And we'll stand for who we are
We are ready, we are young
We have nothing to fear [..]
