Olympic Mastery and Meditation: The Common Thread

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Olympic figure skating and ice dancing have the same effect on me as The Shawshank Redemption — I can’t resist watching, held spellbound by the skaters as they spin and twirl themselves around the solid, and oh-so-frozen slab of ice. As a child, I fantasized about being one of them, but the sad truth is I cannot skate to save my life (and I hate being cold). These days, I am drawn to the story behind the performance and even more spellbound by the dedication and devotion that drives these athletes to return day after day, year after year to perfect their craft.

Mastery requires regular conscious attention, and in many ways, healing ourselves is much the same. It is not the result of a once-in-a-while, cursory thought. Showing up everyday with a compassionate and curious attitude towards all that is unhealed in our heart will yield the biggest results.

Here is one way I have found to optimize the mind+body connection and open the floodgates to whole-hearted healing and living: meditation.

I started meditating years ago, but I was never very regular about it. I found it frustrating, because I believed my mind was supposed to be quiet, but of course there was always a raucous chorus of voices ranting away in there. I came across a lovely meditation teacher in the months after my husband’s death who gently re-educated me about the realities of meditating and gave me tools for the process. As a result, it became a welcome, enjoyable and regular practice for me.

Recently, through the brilliance of Dina Proctor, I discovered a way to go even deeper with 3×3 meditation, so now my process looks more like this:

First thing in the morning, I do a grounding invocation to get myself quiet and centered. I follow my breath and just try to create space and possibility for landing in the sweet spot of my mind – that sumptuous, quiet space that is so inviting, I wish I could stay forever. I don’t always get there.

Next, I do what I think of as laser-focused visioneering and direct my thoughts to things I want to create, experiences I want to have, or a particular way I want to feel. Dina has a great explanation of the 3×3 process here. I am learning that our thoughts should be carefully monitored and our energetic vibration is something that can be cultivated. By allowing my imagination to play, images and ideas begin to magically appear, creating a pathway to where I want to go.

I am committed to doing this three times a day. It took me a while to settle into this routine but I enjoy the regular connection to my higher self.

I am experimenting with this for my writing goals and new life, and finding it to be a powerful way to release and reframe the deep-rooted resistance to the things I desire. Strange fears and beliefs lurk in the recesses of our mind, creating invisible blockages, but doing this work seems to grant access to the wisdom beyond the rational mind, reducing this powerful subterranean resistance.

I would imagine that many Olympic dreams began as hopeful tiny seedlings that took root in a fertile imagination, and, over time, became a mindset that was cultivated and constantly nurtured. This notion gives me hope for all of us on the path to healing.

I feel like my feet are firmly planted, and while I will never skate myself gracefully across an Olympic ice rink, I am truly inspired by the dedicated consciousness and mastery I have witnessed on this ice this year.

Have you found meditation to be a helpful tool on your journey?

-db

Who is Dianna Bonny?

Hi, my name is Dianna Bonny. It’s my mission to candidly share my journey with you. For me, it’s all about the healing: to create a radiant healing energy for others who have befallen a similar fate. Together, we can forge beautiful lives of belonging and connection. Thanks for joining me today! I look forward to hearing from you.

  2 comments for “Olympic Mastery and Meditation: The Common Thread

  1. February 24, 2014 at 12:55 pm

    Hi Dianna,
    Thanks for the 3×3 meditation tips. This will make it much easier to start my day off on the right foot! I too found the traditional meditation practices a struggle. Love the ice skaters also!!!

    • Dianna Bonny
      February 28, 2014 at 4:47 pm

      Glad it helped. I think 3×3 is a less overwhelming. So important to touch in with our higher self and this way makes it easy. Four more years for those skaters! xo

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