By J.P Erickson and Sensei Ingrid Dordar
In 1953 everyone knew it was impossible
to run a mile in under four minutes. The human body just wasn’t designed
for that kind of speed. Everyone knew that. In 1954, a runner named
Roger Bannister held a belief-a conviction burned into his subconscious
mind - that he could accomplish the impossible, that he could push his
body to run a mile in under four minutes. Bannister practiced with this
goal in mind, pushing his body to the limit. He also nurtured his belief
in the impossible by mentally seeing himself break the four minute barrier,
conditioning his mind to go beyond what many thought possible. Roger
Bannister smashed the four minute barrier in 1954, becoming the first
human ever to accomplish a feat deemed unattainable.
 Within
one year, 37 other runners followed suit achieving the impossible.
No matter what your level of raw, physical talent is in
any sport, if you don't hold the belief in your subconscious
mind that you can attain success, you will falter.
In 1927 George Herman "Babe" Ruth
hit sixty home runs. Many believed this record would stand the test
of time. In 1961, Roger Maris belted 61 home runs, breaking one of the
most hallowed records in baseball. However, Maris received scorn. Many
said his record was worthless because he played in more games than Babe
Ruth and that he was nowhere near the ball player that Ruth was. For
the rest of his career Maris never posted home run numbers anywhere
near his record of 61.
Did Maris succumb to the relentless
criticism and start to believe some of the things said about him? Was
there a hint of doubt in his own mind as to his abilities and talents?
In one brief moment of time, Roger Maris proved beyond any doubt that
he had the physical tools to step up to home plate and hit a baseball
out of a ballpark. Why was he unable to put up similar numbers in the
years following 1961?
 Maris
let slip away one of the most powerful weapons in his arsenal:
His belief in his ability. An athlete who doesn’t have this
belief firmly ingrained in their subconscious mind, is an
athlete who will perform low par. The subconscious mind
is a goal seeking mechanism totally consumed with the pursuit
of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. If your subconscious
perceives reaching a certain level of success as coinciding
with pain, it will avoid that success in an attempt avoid
experiencing any pain. Even your staunchest efforts to control
it at the conscious level, will be fruitless. If your mind
harbors any doubts about your ability to excel, and makes
a connection between pain and success, the chances of performing
up to your potential are slim.
So what makes a winner? Physical talent
certainly helps. But all the talent in the world won’t take you to the
top if you don’t believe you can succeed. In Martial Arts where patience
and perseverance are an essential part of your training, this constant
battle of believing in yourself is a must. No matter what obstacles
come your way, physical or mental, you must always keep a positive attitude
about your training. Keep the vision and the goal alive. Above all,
create and mould the belief in your mind that you possess both the physical
and mental tools of a winner. See, feel and believe that you are a winner.
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