In the sport and performance industries everyone talks about “THE ZONE”, “THE FLOW” or being “ON A ROLL”. I am sure you have all heard the term or something of that sort. Many have referred to experiencing these states in daily life when they are riding a wave of positive energy and fulfilment toward fulfilling their intentions for the day, or even bigger goals that just seem to be falling into place. This “ZONE” feeling can even be as mundane as driving in your car, listening to great music and surprisingly, the roads open up for you in heavy traffic just for that moment when you are on your way to your destination at peak hour!
According to the research, the latter three terms above are generally defined as a temporary period of superior harmony, synchronicity, or even perhaps the feeling of ecstasy in whatever you are doing. It is mostly spoken about in relation toward accomplishing something. A time when everything just seems to be going your way, your thoughts and actions are in synchronicity with what you intend to achieve. You are fully immersed in every moment, you seem to be tapped in to a well of energy, information, a momentum that is not part of you appears to be informing every move. In sports, the ball has increased in size and your moves seem automated to the right step at exactly the right time. Whether you are performing or just having fun with friends, the role you playing seems like the greatest you have played thus far. The accumulation of all these ideal moments’ results in this so-called super-human experience we know as the “ZONE” or “FLOW”. A long period of these moments would result in success, or a period of intense fulfilment and or exuberance.
How nice would it be if we could switch on these states at the press of a button, just like an app on your phone?
Unfortunately, many professionals in sport and performance will tell you that “THE ZONE” happens sporadically and spontaneously and it is not a state that can be turned on. What is important to note is that the legends who dominate the momentum of their sports/performances perform at their peak more often than not, due to their mental and physical preparation and practise that have been tried and tested over years. As a result, these legends seem able to slip more often into this so called “ZONE” or “FLOW” state. The same can be said for people outside of the sporting arena, who portray authentic happy and positive dispositions. These personalities also appear to attract things they want in their lives with more ease than others, who do not have this optimistic perspective.
Many healthy and happy children, especially from 13 and younger, are able to experience these so-called zone states much more often than adults. The main reason for this is because their minds are not yet tainted by the noise of society and its judgments and pressures. Mostly, their minds are less noisy, they have more space to imagine, and they are attending to the present or their next moment of PLAY. This allows them to be more in synch with the natural, superior intelligence of the body-brain. The latter is at “play” when adults are experiencing the “zone” as opposed to their usual conscious state of being in control, or needing to be in control.
As a Sports Psychologist, I spend much of my time studying professional sportsmen and women in order to more deeply understand the secrets of mental toughness, especially around the ZONE state. However, the last couple of months, I have spent some time questioning and observing children in order to discover their methods and “secrets” with regard to stepping into the zone state.
The following themes are wonderful for adults and children alike to emulate:
Most interesting was how their statements were shared in a manner of INTENTIONS and PROCESSES instead of EXPECTATIONS AND OUTCOMES. For example, one boy said, “I am looking forward to having fun playing my sport.”
- Their main INTENTION was based upon HOW MUCH FUN THEY COULD HAVE playing their sport.
- The CURIOSITY OF WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH THEIR BODIES AND HOW MUCH THEY COULD STRETCH THEMSELVES was evident.
- PLAYING FAIR AND BY THE RULES, needed to be an important part of making the context SAFE for their freedom to PLAY.
- LESS TALK AND MORE ACTION appeared to be the order of the day.
- A HUNGRY DESIRE TO DO THEIR BEST, AND COME OUT ON TOP, kept their ENERGY HIGH AND THEIR COMPETTITIVE SPIRIT HEALTHY.
- A HEALTHY, NORMAL EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS OF DISAPPOINTMENT OR ELATION WAS EXPRESSED depending on the result.
What I found fascinating about the above is how many children know how to bring out their greatest self just because of the fact that they love to play sport. For them sport is about using their bodies, figuring out their worth through games and competition, and most importantly it is a place where they have some freedom to express their feelings (to a limited extent).
What I took from this small research project was to work on tapping into my own natural, inner child, and the inner children of the sportspeople with whom I work, by remembering what it was like as a child to play, stretch your body, compete, improve, give all you have got, and savour in your imagination the times when you came out on top!
If you dare to rewind to your early years, it can provoke thoughts and feelings, which can make you feel eager, capable, clear, hungry, and perhaps even pressure-less toward bringing out your GREATEST.
In addition, such a list of qualities above seem evident to create a context for promoting more experiences of performing and living at how at our peaks and even more so fostering possibilities of slipping in to the so called “ZONE”, “FLOW”, or the that well-known experience of being “ON A ROLL” toward achieving your intentions and bringing out your best self!
ByToni Gaddie
Clinical and Sports Psychologist
([toni@gaddie.net](mailto:toni@gaddie.net))
Toni Gaddie co-founded The Champion Academy with her sister Rikki Gaddie Dworcan in 2012.
The Champion Academy offers private and group sessions as well as corporate training.