Expect Success

Span's expectation for success set the stage for last night's victory.

A 10-game winning streak in professional baseball is tough to pull off.  Four walk-off victories in five days as part of that streak is a near impossibility. Yet, that is exactly what the Washington Nationals have accomplished during the past two weeks.

Yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was a pitching and defensive exhibition when Nationals center field Denard Span came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.  With no runs on the board for either team, Span hit a bloop single to center field.

According to the Washington Post, Span arrived at first base and thought, “Here we go again.”

Diamondbacks’ first baseman Mark Trumbo whispered to Span, “Just how you guys like it.”

Span proceeded to steal second base and then trot home with the winning run after the Diamondbacks third baseman threw wild to first on a relatively basic ground ball off the bat of Anthony Rendon.

Nationals win!

When asked during his post game presser about the string of victories, Nationals manager Matt Williams emphasized the daily preparation, training and effort his players invest to put themselves in a position to achieve success.  Yet, I’m confident the Diamondbacks put forth a comparable level of preparation.

The wild card here may very well be an expectation for success stirring in the Nationals dugout.  The team is confident it will achieve, while, at least last night, the Diamondbacks expected failure.

Success is the intersection of talent, preparation and confidence. 

Accelerating Potential with Hypnosis and Visualization

My Hypnotic Experience show blends comedy and entertaining anecdotes with a basic hypnotic induction for volunteers and demonstration of the power of visualization.  Unlike a Las Vegas style act with is solely for humor, my goal is for the audience to have a great time and come away with a positive view of hypnosis as a tool for exceptional living.

Although every show is unique because of the imagination of the volunteers, there is a constant with every audience.  I always have a couple of people who stick around after the show to talk about a specific goal or change they desire.

Here are the big three I am asked about it:

-Stress management to be happier, healthier and sleep better at night

-Self confidence to make meaningful decisions (personal or professional)

-Performing in the moment  

I have written extensively on this blog about hypnosis for stress mitigation and self confidence.  Here are links to a few of the popular articles:

Hypnosis as a Tool for Relaxation and Healthy Balance

Sleeping Well with Hypnosis

Stress Mitigation is All Personal

What about performing in the moment?

Simply put, the approach many employ to achieve success in school, on the job or in athletic competition is to focus on skill development.  Athletes practice.  Students study.  Workers prepare a report or for a presentation.

Then, the time comes to demonstrate progress and prowess and we stumble, often because of the anxiety created by the need to excel at that particular moment in time.  We have yet to condition our mind to anticipate and expect success.

During the past three years, I have shared hypnosis and visualization with athletes to improve their performance in competition.  I’ve worked with high school students in their preparations for the SAT and other important tests.  And I provided suggestions to professionals as they prepare for an important career-related activity.

Hypnosis is not magic.  The baseline knowledge (or athleticism) and skill development are absolutely required for success.  When they are in place though, hypnosis is a wonderfully effective tool to unleash our potential.

Director Woody Allen once said 80% of success is simply showing up.  It's actually showing with an expectation that you will succeed. (Photo Source: thelowdownunder.com)