I want to start this blog by saying that I often struggle with mindfulness, and therefore it is extremely difficult to sit down and write about a subject that often challenges me. I will start with the words of Warren Buffet:
“Start your day by sitting down and doing absolutely nothing. Just sit there, close your eyes, and breathe. If you are jumping out of bed, racing to shower, racing to eat breakfast, racing down the highway, it’s going to be a rushed day filled with anxiety. Start your day with calm…”
WHAT DOES MINDFULNESS MEAN TO YOU?
Everybody has a different idea about mindfulness, and without being too critical, I think there is not enough mindfulness in South Africa. The dictionary defines it as “a quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.” Mindfulness exists in all major religions, and for very good reason. There are so many ways we can use mindfulness:
- Be mindful of what comes out of your mouth.
- Be mindful of how you treat people who can do nothing for you.
- Be mindful of what you say about our country in front of your children.
The list can go on and on, but in the end, it all comes down to getting into the habit of responding rather than reacting. Mindfulness is about being aware of the situation and not having a fight, flight, or freeze reaction when you are in a stressful situation. That is easier said than done, and sport is one of the greatest examples of when you can see someone freeze (choke) or regroup and thrive. The lucky thing about sport is that you can get another opportunity the following week, month, or year. Sadly, in our daily lives, the repercussions of fighting, running away, or freezing could take us many years to recover or get another opportunity.
PRACTISING MINDFULNESS IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS
My immediate reaction to stress is fighting and not giving up, which in essence isn’t a bad thing, but there is a cutoff point. In 2002, I was the captain of the Springboks when we played England at Twickenham. At the time, it was the biggest defeat in Springbok history, 53-3 to England, and my reaction during the game was to fight and not run away. There were many incidents of foul play that I was involved in, and for that, I will always be crucified. Many years later, it is easy to look back and see what I could have done differently, but I didn’t have the coping mechanisms at that time. As you become older and wiser, your way of looking at situations changes, and I truly am embarrassed when my sons show me the videos of that fateful day.
The great thing about life is that we always have an opportunity to improve in every area of our lives, and that is one area I have really tried to change. Theodore Roosevelt wrote an amazing quote, “Man in the Arena.” If you have never read it, then please do so, as it is far more important to be in the arena, bleeding and making mistakes, rather than standing on the outside and criticising.
All of us have one or two things that upset us or put stress in our lives. Being mindful of them and the triggers that lead to the stress is very important. Let’s be mindful that we must respond and not react.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.