In the series “Man is mishandled, not so much by events, as by what he thinks of events” (quote from Montaigne), I offer some thoughts on this subject.
When I approach in the video-training the method that allows us to considerably improve our technique, but also and above all to master it perfectly, in any circumstance and whatever our discipline, I take the liberty to paraphrase Montaigne as follows: “Man is mishandled, not so much by the difficulties as by what he thinks of these difficulties, by the idea he has of them”.
And I quote these 3 important sentences that it is important to remember:
- The idea that one has of the difficulties is more important than the difficulties themselves.
- The state of mind with which one approaches a problem is more important than the problem itself.
- The "intention" with which one will produce an action is more important than the action itself.
It is important to know that “our capacities, our skills are inhibited by the limits we impose on ourselves, consciously or unconsciously”.
That “if we think we are incapable of producing an action, our brain sends specific messages to our nervous system that limit or suppress our ability to achieve that result”.
Here is an example that can be adapted to any discipline...
If I am running and I think I am not very good at it, I will send specific messages to my nervous system that will prevent me (involuntarily and unconsciously of course), running fast ... even if I really have the physiological capacity to break speed records!
And it is necessary to know that all this happens « SO THAT I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH MY BELIEFS! »
This means that if I think that I am not intelligent, that I am not good at studying, then I will program myself (quite involuntarily and quite unconsciously of course) to have difficulties in my studies.
Hence the interest of never saying to a child: “You suck, you'll never get anywhere, etc...”.
But fortunately, the opposite is true!!! The numerous examples I give on placebos in the video-training show this irrefutably.
It should not be forgotten either that the will, badly used, can produce exactly the opposite of what one wishes to obtain ...
I will end with this little fable, which perfectly illustrates what I am saying.
A NICE INDIAN TALE
Once upon a time there was a young warrior who took an egg from an eagle's nest.
and put it to hatch in the farmyard.
When the egg hatched, the little eagle came out and grew up among the chicks, pecking at its food like its companions.
One day, looking up, he saw an eagle hovering above him.
He felt its wings quivering and said to one of the chickens, « How I wish I could do the same! »
Don't be silly, « replied the chicken, “only an eagle can fly that high! »
Shameful of his desire, the little eagle returned to scrape the dust.
and he never again questioned the place he thought he had received on this earth.
Morality of this story
If we put limits on ourselves, or worse, if “someone” imposes them on us, we risk depriving ourselves of resources that we possess, but that we did not even imagine we had in us.
On the other hand, if we have faith in our abilities (if we change our beliefs), we may discover possibilities in ourselves that we were far from suspecting.
So, let's do it! Let's dare!