Have a little faith…

Although not deeply religious, I would consider myself a deep believer in the power of faith… my father would tell me growing up that I could do anything as long as I put my mind to it, and to a large degree, I have to say… he was right. I will admit, it is easier said than done at times; especially when it comes to things like walking on water, but when you have the focus, persistence and truly believe that you can do something… your chances for success increase exponentially and that’s a fact.

It is no secret that pro athletes have used the tactic of envisioning the task before them to prepare themselves mentally. A perfect example was the past Winter Olympics… I am sure almost everyone remembers Lindsey Vonn winning the Women’s Gold Medal in downhill skiing. What I remember more than anything is seeing Lindsey standing at the top of the hill before her run… somewhat bobbing and weaving. She had memorized the course and was going through the turns in her head. Combining this with muscle memory enables the body to react faster and more accurately when under stress.

The power of this exercise is unmistakable. I am not sure what is going on as far as your neurons firing and such, but there is definitely some connection that takes place between the metaphysical to the physiological capabilities of a human being. It is proof in my mind that training, both mind and body is much more powerful than just pumping iron so to speak.

This is nothing new really. You may have also seen master illusionists like Houdini and David Blaine push the limits a of what the human body can withstand by submerging themselves without air for hours or encasing themselves in ice for days. Both illusionists say they were able to do these feats by going to a trance, controlling their breathing and training. Many discount this as trickery, but pro athletes like freediver and World Record holder Carlos Coste of Venezuela make you think twice. Athletes like Carlos, who in 2003 dove 102 meters (312 feet) underwater without assistance or an oxygen tank are also pushing the limits of what was previously considered impossible by training their mind and bodies.

Other Examples?

A. FMX poster child and Nitro Circus ring leader Travis Pastrana wowed crowds at X Games 15 last summer with his rodeo 720 attempt on a 250lb motorcycle.

B. Big Mountain Skiers like Titus Engelborg, Leo Brayman, and Jamie Pierre are doing front flips off cliffs in excess of 200ft, without a parachute!

C. And now Sebastian Vanderwerf, Miguel Delfortrie, Ulf Gartner and their buddies are… walking on water?

Although the Hi-Tec liquid mountaineering video has finally been claimed as a viral marketing hoax created by Amsterdam creative agency CCCP, the believability of it can not be denied… the accomplishment is not a physical win, it is a creative win. The video topped the YouTube charts as one of the most viewed videos in less than two weeks.

I guess my point is this… when you feel challenged in life, just remind yourself of these conquering moments in each of these individuals personal history and think about how many people told them it couldn’t be done.

Remember… mind over matter, anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. Use the force!