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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 45,414
Loc: Under the C
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Being 'In the Zone'
#8042745 - 02/19/08 12:47 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I was totally 'in the zone' last night on the racquetball courts. A friend and I got into a discussion as to the hows and whys. There are definitely many parallels to zen or perhaps it is the same thing.
Let's see if there is a formula/method to it. Of course, it need not be limited to sports nor will I be covering any new ground.
1. One must have some mastery of skills. It is impossible for a raw amateur to be in the zone.
2. Physical and mental tension must be minimized. 'Flow' is blocked by tension - or I should say unnecessary tension as physical endeavors do require effort. Only the muscles actually needed to perform the task should be flexing or contracting.
3. The action should be visualized before taking place even when it appears there is no time to do so. See, trust, execute.
4. Once the visualization (goal-setting) takes place all thoughts of the result should be dropped and only thought of the form exists. Internalize rather than externalize.
5. A playful attitude works well for me as being serious (even in a serious situation) seems to create extra tension.
6. Be gentle on yourself. Stay calm. Berating oneself or getting angry only increases tension.
7. Breathe slowly, deeply and regularly. Holding one's breath is common and counter-productive.
Summation: stay loose.
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Edited by OrgoneConclusion (02/19/08 01:21 PM)
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deranger


Registered: 01/21/08
Posts: 6,840
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nothing like a playful meditation 
self-awareness and mindfulnessis is of great use in any situation.
badminton is my game of choice.
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AlteredAgain
Visual Alchemist



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be water my friend.
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mushbaby
woodswalker




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I think a person must actually enjoy doing whatever puts them in the zone as well.
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: deranger]
#8042852 - 02/19/08 01:26 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Competitive badminton would be fun. I only played backyard badminton a few times as a child.
I think I could play at very high level in just a few months as the basic skill set / mindset is the same as in racquetball; the difference is only in the details.
May have to check the local community colleges...
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



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i think you make a pretty good description of being in the zone
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mycould
Stranger


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confidence confidence confidence you have to push all anxiety and uncertainty from your mind and not wonder if you can do something, but know that you're going to do it
-------------------- Whether you believe you can or believe you cant, either way you're probably right.
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Ginseng1
Elegant Universe



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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: mycould]
#8043240 - 02/19/08 03:07 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think being in the zone has to do with your consciousness' expansion throughout space + time during a given activity/action/timeframe/whatever.
It's when your sense of space and time reaches outwards and "feels" out your surrounding area, the surrounding energy. Beyond what you can directly see or hear. So it's like your third eye is telling you what to do. You just *know* how to move, what do say, etc... So when you're in the zone, you know how to be around this girl, or how to jump through a hoop of barbed wire like Ongbak. The possibilities are endless. In the zone, you can speak with conscious beings in realms apart from the ones we are accustomed to seeing. The zone can be applied to anything really.
I agree with you OC on some of the prerequisites to achieve this zen like state. I think if we could all begin to consider the physical properties that flucuate beyond what we see and hear, we may be able to really understand what being "in the zone" is truly about. If we knew what kind of energetic fluctuations are occuring with our mind and consiousness, we might find that our body only limits what we may be able to do with our current physical manifestiation, but not the understanding and all knowing widsom that is available for us. We just have to stay loose .
(hope that made some sense)
-------------------- Flowing through beginningless time since time without beginning...
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PhanTomCat
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#2, Yes, tension makes you focus on the tension instead of what you intend to focus on.... It is like being worried, I call it the black cloud....
#5, Very important, whether in the zone or not.... I have grown accustomed to constantly reminding myself of this, and keeping myself in check....
#3, Kinda~ didn't work as I read thru with my personal "in the zone" activity - probably more suited for other things.... Doodling around on the guitar, improv style, as I play, I pick up on the "cool sounding" stuff as and after I am playing it - then try to repeat it as I instantly click the finger-position memory button on and *try* to record it in my brain.... It is literally like jamming along not paying attention, then BAM, WTF was that, it sounded cool.... ***remember remember remember*** It gets the shocked "pay attention now" head turn and everything - as something is recognized as favorable....
I almost have to "zone out" to be "in the zone", with momentary lapses of zoning back in to "catch the fish".... I seem to be good at a form of "accidental art" in this respect, I rarely ever plan anything artistic unless I am at work.... Maybe certain forms of creativity don't translate perfectly like other tasks, or I have misinterpreted your words..... 
There are different times of playing where I am working out what I hear in my head.... That is a different approach, but might be better suited example to fit with your list.... 
>^;;^<
-------------------- I'll be your midnight French Fry.... "The most important things in life that are often ignored, are the things that one cannot see...." >^;;^<
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mushbaby
woodswalker




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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: mycould]
#8044540 - 02/19/08 08:07 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
mycould said: confidence confidence confidence you have to push all anxiety and uncertainty from your mind and not wonder if you can do something, but know that you're going to do it
I like this.
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WScott
´ ɑ `▽ ᑲᓇᑕ


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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: mushbaby]
#8044685 - 02/19/08 08:37 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Reminds me of some of my tennis match-ups. If I win a few games (not full games), my confidence will shoot up and my game will improve drastically. I'll feel on top of it. I recall once beating my friends (King's Court) in 10 straight games and I had that feeling of being 'on'; like I can't be beat. It catches up though.. as at the end of it I was landing from a leaping return and rolled my ankle. Had to take work off the next day.
We have the tools to be incredible at most anything we put our mind to. When confidence outweighs self doubt, great things can happen. Another example is when I was playing pool with a couple of friends. I wasn't doing so well and was internally beating myself up over it, telling myself not to over think the shots and whatnot. My good friend, picking up on this and almost in a joking manner, started to encourage me. My game improved considerably on even the very next shot.
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: WScott]
#8044699 - 02/19/08 08:40 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I once deliberately put myself 'out of the zone' just to see what mere mortals feel like. Never did it again.
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SneezingPenis
ACHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!111!

Registered: 01/15/05
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so orgone, are we to believe that you believe that there is some extra sensoral level that we can reach where we momentarily become (for lack of a better word) superhuman?
what you have confided in us is that there is an inexplicable level that one can reach where their performance in minor sectors of human ability are more honed and accurate. do you think that science can back up your theory of "being in the zone"? what are the parameters of being in the zone? and how does one know when they are in the zone or not? is it kind of one of those things that "you just know"?
is it possible that one persons "being in the zone" is another persons average Tuesday?
I call poppycock unless you provide me some scientific studies that back your position on this matter.
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 45,414
Loc: Under the C
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There is no parking in the RED ZONE.
It is not super human, but it is extraordinary.
(*dons white lab coat*) The metric is two fold: it feels (relatively) effortless and the result is (almost) exactly what you were trying to accomplish. This may translate to a trophy or a win in sports or at least a near-perfect shot; or a recording that fully captures the nuances a musician is trying to express.
Even if you are not a golf fan nor a tennis fan - Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are frequently in the zone and are amazing to watch.
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Edited by OrgoneConclusion (02/20/08 02:58 AM)
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Veritas

Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
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If you are interested in reading about the scientific work in this field, I highly recommend Flow and The Breakout Principle.
Also, Abraham Maslow's studies of self-actualized individuals, and the unusual percentage of time they spend in a flow state, or having "peak" experiences.
It's the real deal, IMO.
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Lion
Decadent Flower Magnate


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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: Veritas]
#8046699 - 02/20/08 10:46 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hell yeah! 
Basketball and longboarding can put me in such a state, if I'm not doing either out of a desire to impress others.
-------------------- “Strengthened by contemplation and study, I will not fear my passions like a coward. My body I will give to pleasures, to diversions that I’ve dreamed of, to the most daring erotic desires, to the lustful impulses of my blood, without any fear at all, for whenever I will— and I will have the will, strengthened as I’ll be with contemplation and study— at the crucial moments I’ll recover my spirit as was before: ascetic.”
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: Lion]
#8046877 - 02/20/08 11:31 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Basketball and longboarding can put me in such a state
At the same time?
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Lion
Decadent Flower Magnate


Registered: 09/20/05
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I've tried it (by myself) - somewhat hazardous.
-------------------- “Strengthened by contemplation and study, I will not fear my passions like a coward. My body I will give to pleasures, to diversions that I’ve dreamed of, to the most daring erotic desires, to the lustful impulses of my blood, without any fear at all, for whenever I will— and I will have the will, strengthened as I’ll be with contemplation and study— at the crucial moments I’ll recover my spirit as was before: ascetic.”
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backfromthedead
Activated


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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: Lion]
#8047180 - 02/20/08 12:48 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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 Longboarding.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
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heroin
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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backfromthedead
Activated


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Re: Being 'In the Zone' [Re: Icelander]
#8047238 - 02/20/08 01:05 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Heres a needle, you want me to tie you off??
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deranger


Registered: 01/21/08
Posts: 6,840
Loc: off the wall
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Quote:
YawningAnus said:I call poppycock unless you provide me some scientific studies that back your position on this matter.
"Nowadays neuroscientists have shown and confirmed that we keep creating reality (despite being directly exposed to reality) according to our mental models as we wish, so we see what we expect to see, and we hear what we expect to hear, instead of facing and seeing reality as it truly is." -some book
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