Elite Time
One Idea
Elite athletes and top performers maintain a high level of focus, motivation, and game readiness. Basically, they have an ability to ‘turn it on’ when the time calls for it. Sports psychologists believe this to be the key factor in what separates the best of the best from the rest of the pack. One way to understand how they do this is to talk about time.
The ancient Greeks had two words for time. The first is Chronos, meaning sequential time. Chronos is how most people understand time in today’s world. What time is it, when is this or that scheduled, and what’s happening tomorrow, etc.
The other word the Greeks used for time is Kairos. Kairos means opportune or significant moment. Think of your wedding day or the week you got fired. These moments stand out because of their uniqueness and nonpermanence. If Chronos is measured in minutes, Kairos is measured in moments.
Elite performers live in a world of Kairos. They access high levels of intensity and focus, in part, because they understand the liminality and significance of a given moment. Where the average athlete has to look for motivation to get pumped up for game day, the elite athlete understands what kind of moment it is and calls forth the peak state of mind necessary to perform.
Two Quotes
“Amateurs sit around and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” - Stephen King
“We only have one life and one body to care for, and we better do it right. You never know what tomorrow may bring, so live this life the best you can and be grateful for everything you have.” - Novak Djokovic
Three Takeaways
1. Kairos time gives weight to ordinary things. Kairos time has a way of connecting dots that Chronos time never will. How much you sleep tonight affects well you’ll think tomorrow, so you better get your rest. What you eat for lunch now affects how much energy you’ll have later this afternoon, so choose wisely. Keeping up with social media all week affects the kind of emotional energy you’ll have this weekend for the game, so maybe encourage your guys to get off their phones and deal with real people. (I say that kindly).
2. The next fifteen minutes could change everything. What would change if you gave the next fifteen minutes of your day your complete attention, focus, and effort? Maybe you need to take a fifteen minute break, call your daughter, ask her how she’s doing, or just remind her that you love her? Perhaps it’s time to stop putting off that difficult conversation with a colleague, get up, walk to his office, and finally clear the air? I don’t know what needs to happen, but you probably do. The next fifteen minutes could change everything if you’re willing to see it as more than just the next fifteen minutes of your day.
3. Some moments are bigger than others. The average person today lives 28,735 days. That includes 4,105 weekends. At most, the 2019 California Golden Bear football team will only get 15 of those 4,105 weekends to play football against a live opponent. At this writing–again, best case scenario–only 13 opportunities remain. Carpe diem, friends. Seize the day.
