How To

Stop Overthinking and Start Doing — in a Mindful Way

Don’t practise until you can get it right — practise until you can’t get it wrong.

Image licensed from Canva

I am spent and empowered at once. I am looking around, eyes squinting, blood boiling in my veins, my muscles contract, like a big cat, pacing around my prey. I am waiting for a sign, to lunge, to attack, to kill if I must. My body is trying to find its balance; it’s not easy — I am hurting, my muscles are aching, yet I am hyperalert and my focus zooms into one single point. I suck in some air and I relax and tense my muscles again, lift my hands and…

‘And one more round! Left punch, right punch, left hook, right hook, and a right sidekick.’

He’s prompting the moves I have seen and done a million times. I am memorising them with my muscles, so I can give all my strength without the burden of thoughts. I’d like to wipe off the sweat but there is no time for that; I can’t even breathe for shit, let alone move my arms further than I must. In the break, I obediently do another 20 push-ups and 50 crunches and then one more round.

I am trembling all over and my focus is starting to loosen. I start to think about the next move, it is visible in my eyes. My coach… he knows me too well…