Living Sanely in an Insane World

"We live in a society today where our athletes are walking around in skillfully trained, physically fit bodies, but less skillfully trained, mentally fit minds," writes tennis coach Arik Zeevy. "We're out of practice and out of balance."

Greg Harden and Phil Jackson believe this is as true of non-athletes as anyone, especially those working in high-performance, high stakes professions. Both coaches are recognized for their work in helping players develop a practice of healthy self mastery - a state which each claims has nothing to do with ego, and everything to do with relating to life as it is. This, perhaps, is the most challenging task of all. 

The clarity by which we view life, and the resources we develop within ourselves, support our ability to endure the stress and unpredictable nature of this world. Here are ideas they'd like us to keep in mind.

Pointers from Coach Greg Harden

"I'm telling you right now, your life belongs to you, and it is your responsibility to make the most of it. Nobody else can do this for you. Because if you practice, train, and rehearse believing in yourself, it will become second nature."

The world is insane, chaotic, afflicted with turmoil. 

Everyone can and should view themselves through three lenses: physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Stop letting others determine the way you feel about yourself.

Be inspired by others -but never compare yourself to anyone. 

Be bluntly honest about the ways you sabotage yourself. Hold yourself accountable.

Identify, call out your self-denigrating thoughts. Consider where they come from.

Know your triggers and your typical response to each, or you'll never control them.

Strong emotions nearly always trump reason and logic. Stabilize - ground yourself before action.

Consider your daily work your practice. Some days you'll be up for it, others less so. Still, every day:

Start where you are

Control what you can

Reach for greatness

Advice from Phil Jackson

From Sacred Hoops: "Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing...We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy."  

If you have the right mindset, you can make any crisis or loss work for you.

The world in which you live is a reflection of your innermost self. The way you perceive the world changes according to your willingness to work on yourself (and maintain that practice).

Vision is the primary source of leadership, representing a dream state in which anything is possible within self or any framework. It isn't fantasy – it's like the vision of an eagle, scanning the landscape over which it flies, finding opportunity according to its purpose.

Pay attention to body language – how we, and others, carry our own bodies throughout the day. It communicates volumes.

Staying in the present moment releases us from the baggage of yesterday and today, enabling our focus on matters at hand to sharpen. "I used to try to apply someone else's ideas to problems—something I've read in a book, for instance… It's far better to maintain one's own awareness, focusing on the present..." to solve problems.

Never stop learning and exploring new ways of thinking.

"Like life, basketball is messy and unpredictable. It has its way with you, no matter how hard you try to control it. The trick is to experience each moment with a clear mind and open heart. When you do that, the game - and life - will take care of itself."