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The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance
Michael Jordan and countless other NBA stars credit George Mumford with transforming their game. A widely respected public speaker and coach, Mumford shares his story and strategies in The Mindful Athlete . His proven techniques transform the performance of anyone with a goal, be they an Olympian, weekend warrior, executive, hacker, or artist.
A basketball player at the University of Massachusetts (where he roomed with Dr. J, Julius Erving), injuries forced Mumford out of the game he loved. The meds that relieved the pain of his injuries also numbed him to the emptiness he felt without the game and eventually led him to heroin. After years as a functioning addict, Mumford made meditation the center of his life. He kicked drugs, earned a master’s degree, and began teaching meditation to inmates and others.
Mumford went on to partner with coach Phil Jackson, a long-time mindfulness practitioner, working with him and each of the teams he coached to become NBA champions. His roster of champion clients now includes executives and Olympians. With a charismatic style that combines mindfulness with lessons from icons like Yoda and Bruce Lee, Mumford delivers an engrossing story and an invaluable resource.
A basketball player at the University of Massachusetts (where he roomed with Dr. J, Julius Erving), injuries forced Mumford out of the game he loved. The meds that relieved the pain of his injuries also numbed him to the emptiness he felt without the game and eventually led him to heroin. After years as a functioning addict, Mumford made meditation the center of his life. He kicked drugs, earned a master’s degree, and began teaching meditation to inmates and others.
Mumford went on to partner with coach Phil Jackson, a long-time mindfulness practitioner, working with him and each of the teams he coached to become NBA champions. His roster of champion clients now includes executives and Olympians. With a charismatic style that combines mindfulness with lessons from icons like Yoda and Bruce Lee, Mumford delivers an engrossing story and an invaluable resource.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2015
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July 20, 2017
Full Review: The Mindful Athlete: Secrets To Pure Performance Review
Alright, so you probably already know that meditation is good for you, and you sometimes say ‘I should probably do it’, but you don’t get around to it.
Whatever your excuses, you NEED to meditate. All of the science that has come out showing the benefits of meditation, just can’t be procrastinated on anymore.
With the Mindful Athlete, we learn how the TOP-level championship players in various sports use meditation to overcome stress during the game, after the game, and within their own ego. The author taught the Chicago Bulls basketball team to meditate during their 3-year championship wins (when Michael Jordan was still playing). He also took thousands of other high-level sports players into their top-level game.
Honestly, if you want to be good at anything now, meditation is a must. Meditation allows you to get a clear picture of your own emotions, as they happen. It allows you to step outside of your ego, your fears, your addictions, your vices, your anger, and REALLY understand what is going on inside you. ‘Boredom, anger, sadness, or fear, are not ‘yours’, not personal. They are conditions of the mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you’.
The author himself is a black male, raised in a very dangerous area of the United States, who had dreams of playing the in NBA. He was a top-level athlete in highschool, but eventually injured both of his legs, and could no longer play going into college. Instead he entered a mind-numbing job in finance, and became addicted to heroine – one of the worst drugs to be addicted to.
Through meditation, he was able to control the addictive emotions, and eventually overcome them. This of course, takes months and years of practice. Through meditation, you are able to overcome the ‘monkey mind’: a Buddhist term that refers to a mind that is agitated, restless, confused, or that is hard to control.
Finally, a simple exercise: ‘Before you exercise or do your physical activity, take 5 minutes to be still and practice being conscious of the space between stimulus and response. Stop what you are doing, and return to your breath. Stay in the calm center. Respond from the center of the hurricane, rather than reacting from the chaos of the storm.’
‘As you learn to listen to yourself and practice, you will find you can listen better to others, whether it’s your boss, your child, or your teammate. When you really listen to a person, without judging or interrupting, it may feel as though you’re hearing them for the first time.’
This book is an amazing fusion between eastern meditation practices, and western sports psychology. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get to their top-level innergame.
5/5
Alright, so you probably already know that meditation is good for you, and you sometimes say ‘I should probably do it’, but you don’t get around to it.
Whatever your excuses, you NEED to meditate. All of the science that has come out showing the benefits of meditation, just can’t be procrastinated on anymore.
With the Mindful Athlete, we learn how the TOP-level championship players in various sports use meditation to overcome stress during the game, after the game, and within their own ego. The author taught the Chicago Bulls basketball team to meditate during their 3-year championship wins (when Michael Jordan was still playing). He also took thousands of other high-level sports players into their top-level game.
Honestly, if you want to be good at anything now, meditation is a must. Meditation allows you to get a clear picture of your own emotions, as they happen. It allows you to step outside of your ego, your fears, your addictions, your vices, your anger, and REALLY understand what is going on inside you. ‘Boredom, anger, sadness, or fear, are not ‘yours’, not personal. They are conditions of the mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you’.
The author himself is a black male, raised in a very dangerous area of the United States, who had dreams of playing the in NBA. He was a top-level athlete in highschool, but eventually injured both of his legs, and could no longer play going into college. Instead he entered a mind-numbing job in finance, and became addicted to heroine – one of the worst drugs to be addicted to.
Through meditation, he was able to control the addictive emotions, and eventually overcome them. This of course, takes months and years of practice. Through meditation, you are able to overcome the ‘monkey mind’: a Buddhist term that refers to a mind that is agitated, restless, confused, or that is hard to control.
Finally, a simple exercise: ‘Before you exercise or do your physical activity, take 5 minutes to be still and practice being conscious of the space between stimulus and response. Stop what you are doing, and return to your breath. Stay in the calm center. Respond from the center of the hurricane, rather than reacting from the chaos of the storm.’
‘As you learn to listen to yourself and practice, you will find you can listen better to others, whether it’s your boss, your child, or your teammate. When you really listen to a person, without judging or interrupting, it may feel as though you’re hearing them for the first time.’
This book is an amazing fusion between eastern meditation practices, and western sports psychology. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get to their top-level innergame.
5/5
October 30, 2017
Quite boring. I don't quite remember what drew me to the book other than the the connection to mindfulness. While I'm not an athlete at all (I work out regularly and that's it), the book sounded intriguing if even an amateur like myself might gain some benefit. I like meditating after finishing my workouts so it seemed like this could be a good book.
There isn't much here that I thought was new. As other reviews say, there are a lot of stories. His personal life wasn't all that interesting, despite the attempts to tie it all together into the mindfulness. If you're already familiar with the concept there's probably not a lot here that would totally amaze you.
Maybe if you're an athlete that has hit a sort of mental barrier or plateau of some sort and need to find something to focus or quiet your mind or want to adjust your attitude/routine then this might have some benefit. As it was, it seemed like a book filled with a lot of empty platitudes or stuff that you could find elsewhere, and probably for cheaper too.
I regret buying it as a bargain buy and would recommend library unless you're someone who might really fit the author's targeted audience.
There isn't much here that I thought was new. As other reviews say, there are a lot of stories. His personal life wasn't all that interesting, despite the attempts to tie it all together into the mindfulness. If you're already familiar with the concept there's probably not a lot here that would totally amaze you.
Maybe if you're an athlete that has hit a sort of mental barrier or plateau of some sort and need to find something to focus or quiet your mind or want to adjust your attitude/routine then this might have some benefit. As it was, it seemed like a book filled with a lot of empty platitudes or stuff that you could find elsewhere, and probably for cheaper too.
I regret buying it as a bargain buy and would recommend library unless you're someone who might really fit the author's targeted audience.
May 29, 2022
The very basics of mindfulness for athletes. The book covers such topics like: the flow ("the zone") or deliberate practice. It's not super-practical - it doesn't try to force any framework, katas, or exercises. It's more about providing inspiration and some real-life examples (well-known figures) that have benefitted from applying mindfulness. Not all of those cases are super-convincing: e.g. there's a single quote by Jordan ("this zen thing really works") and some quotes that are far more about "the zone" than getting into it.
I think that if you're already hooked on the idea on mindfulness and you need some more "boost" - this book is for you. But if you still consider it a "mumbo-jumbo" and you're looking for some hard evidence, you won't find it here. Also - if you have already experienced mindfulness outside of sports, you won't learn much here.
Keeping in mind all the "ifs" above, 3.8-4.0 stars (mainly because the book is really good in explaining the concepts w/o asking you to read "The Flow" :)).
I think that if you're already hooked on the idea on mindfulness and you need some more "boost" - this book is for you. But if you still consider it a "mumbo-jumbo" and you're looking for some hard evidence, you won't find it here. Also - if you have already experienced mindfulness outside of sports, you won't learn much here.
Keeping in mind all the "ifs" above, 3.8-4.0 stars (mainly because the book is really good in explaining the concepts w/o asking you to read "The Flow" :)).
February 7, 2022
You have your superpowers within! I like the way Mumford explains his own story and use great examples.
Be like water!
Do or don’t, there is no try!
Be like water!
Do or don’t, there is no try!
April 29, 2020
George Mumford teaches mindfulness techniques to champions. He mentored the late Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and many other top notch athletes who want to perform at their very best. However, this book is not simply about athletes - this is a book which will come in handy for anyone wanting to improve their performance whether it be for your career or simply in "your life".
Mumford discusses his five superpowers: mindfulness, concentration, insight, right effort and trust.
Mumford has coached many teams who use his methods to become the best that they can be whether in the NBA or in life. He is a widely respected public speaker and coach and his techniques will transform anybody who has "any goal".
Mumford talks about insight. Mindfulness will help you understand your own thoughts and the impact that they have on your life. He says that there are a lot of talented people in the world, but few of them reach their full potential. And he asks why is that? Because they don't fully believe in themselves and they aren't fully aware of the effect that their beliefs have on their life. These beliefs that exist in our heads - don't just live their quietly and alone - they manifest themselves as habits.
So if you want to change your behavior, you have to think about your habits and the underlying thoughts behind them. You need to understand the "emotional blueprint" your beliefs are founded upon.
Michael Jordan (one of the best basketball players in history) embodied everything he learned from Foreman and mindfulness when he made his "failure" commercial for Nike. "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career....lost almost 300 games. I've failed over and over again in my life. That's why I succeeded."
Some great life lessons are embedded in this book about how to navigate "with ease" life's journey. Learning to believe in yourself and learning to trust yourself will breed self confidence and staying open to new ideas. Mindful athletes develop a lot of faith - a "faith in the self" and trusting the divine spark that each of them has within himself or herself. And you can do the same thing!
Mumford discusses his five superpowers: mindfulness, concentration, insight, right effort and trust.
Mumford has coached many teams who use his methods to become the best that they can be whether in the NBA or in life. He is a widely respected public speaker and coach and his techniques will transform anybody who has "any goal".
Mumford talks about insight. Mindfulness will help you understand your own thoughts and the impact that they have on your life. He says that there are a lot of talented people in the world, but few of them reach their full potential. And he asks why is that? Because they don't fully believe in themselves and they aren't fully aware of the effect that their beliefs have on their life. These beliefs that exist in our heads - don't just live their quietly and alone - they manifest themselves as habits.
So if you want to change your behavior, you have to think about your habits and the underlying thoughts behind them. You need to understand the "emotional blueprint" your beliefs are founded upon.
Michael Jordan (one of the best basketball players in history) embodied everything he learned from Foreman and mindfulness when he made his "failure" commercial for Nike. "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career....lost almost 300 games. I've failed over and over again in my life. That's why I succeeded."
Some great life lessons are embedded in this book about how to navigate "with ease" life's journey. Learning to believe in yourself and learning to trust yourself will breed self confidence and staying open to new ideas. Mindful athletes develop a lot of faith - a "faith in the self" and trusting the divine spark that each of them has within himself or herself. And you can do the same thing!
October 18, 2025
the beginning was a little slow but lots of great information!
February 3, 2016
I found this to be an amazingly insightful book. While I'm firmly in the Christian faith mindset and this book is largely focused on a Buddhist faith, I found the entire thing easy to relate to and there were many takeaways that I know I will be using going forward.
November 29, 2020
The material is unorganized, unfocused, and imprecise. This book tries to be too many things, part memoir, part sport motivation, part philosophy, and part meditation. The meditation is in the title but all the other stuff detract from being able to meditate, since they are externals and can be distracting if you actually try doing it. I hoped since he was taught in the insight meditation school that he would present it in a way that facilitated the meditation itself, but that was not the case.
I finished about 20% before turning it in. Such a long book is not worth my time, not when Mindfulness in Plain English exists and actually goes into depth on the topic, not just surface skimming and making wildly misleading statements that would make newbies puzzled and frustrated.
I finished about 20% before turning it in. Such a long book is not worth my time, not when Mindfulness in Plain English exists and actually goes into depth on the topic, not just surface skimming and making wildly misleading statements that would make newbies puzzled and frustrated.
March 6, 2017
Pretty good, but it had a bit of a habit of making something that could be said in 100 words last 1 chapter. Lost a bit of interest towards the end.
August 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. What stood out to me most was the art of mindfulness—something I’ve read quite a bit about already—but Mumford really brought it home in a way that was practical and powerful. He emphasizes the importance of finding that quiet space, how difficult it can be to stay mindful, but also the huge benefits of being centered. It’s not just for athletes—this applies to everyday life.
I also appreciated how he weaved in a spiritual component, whether that’s God, a higher power, or whatever you believe in. It gave the book more depth and made me think about mindfulness as more than just a performance tool—it’s a way of life.
While I really enjoyed his personal backstory, I would have liked a few more stories from his time with the Chicago Bulls and his direct work with athletes. Those glimpses were fascinating, and I think sprinkling in more of them would have taken the book up another notch.
Overall though, it’s really solid—well told, thoughtful, and full of valuable information. If you’re looking to grow not just as an athlete, but as a person, this one’s worth the read.
I also appreciated how he weaved in a spiritual component, whether that’s God, a higher power, or whatever you believe in. It gave the book more depth and made me think about mindfulness as more than just a performance tool—it’s a way of life.
While I really enjoyed his personal backstory, I would have liked a few more stories from his time with the Chicago Bulls and his direct work with athletes. Those glimpses were fascinating, and I think sprinkling in more of them would have taken the book up another notch.
Overall though, it’s really solid—well told, thoughtful, and full of valuable information. If you’re looking to grow not just as an athlete, but as a person, this one’s worth the read.
August 26, 2024
Some great points but felt it was cut short
July 21, 2018
A lot of citing other sources with no real insight into sports at all
July 10, 2020
light on detailed 'secrets', but interesting and personal perspective on benefits of mindfulness, as applied to elite athletes.
also touches on author's difficult youth, descent into drug addiction and on his work with prisoners, would have liked more on these aspects. relies a little heavily on Chicago Bulls, and one-line quotes from the stars
also touches on author's difficult youth, descent into drug addiction and on his work with prisoners, would have liked more on these aspects. relies a little heavily on Chicago Bulls, and one-line quotes from the stars
May 24, 2023
This was a good quick listen on applying mindfulness to sports. If you are not aware of mindfulness and flow this might be a good introduction for you. If you are aware, this is good refresher course. I am attempting to apply the principles of mindfulness to my golf game. I felt some moderate success with my first round.
July 22, 2020
An amazing book that shows top athletes do not only work hard and have talent, but one of the most important thing is that they have to be mindfulness, they have to practice Zen philosophy and meditation regularly in order to sustain peak performance.
January 10, 2021
Про медитацію у професійному спорті, у в’язниці та у бізнесі від одного з тренерів Bulls та інших команд NBA. Якщо коротко, то скажу так - Кобі медитував, Майкл медитував, і ти медитуй. Сьогодні вперше за рік ліг подихати, і саме поради автора допомогли мені спокійно перенести вривання дітей в кімнату, щоб погратись з кішкою, дзвінок дружини «спустись допомогти з сумками», крик старшого «тато, ти медитуєш? Ну добре, я сам зачиню» та інші життєві дрібниці.
January 28, 2022
Working my way through the books suggested by sporting CEOs, GMs and players.
This one was useful for me to read as I’ve taken up very basic and sporadic mindfulness, but that experience made me able to connect with some of the concepts. It would’ve been nice to hear more from the players the author worked with or impacted, but at the same time I was good to see actionable steps for the everyday person as well as athletes.
This one was useful for me to read as I’ve taken up very basic and sporadic mindfulness, but that experience made me able to connect with some of the concepts. It would’ve been nice to hear more from the players the author worked with or impacted, but at the same time I was good to see actionable steps for the everyday person as well as athletes.
February 8, 2023
Nicely written. Great book! Lots about meditation and how to use it. Lots of helpful tips not only for sports also for your daily life. I really enjoyed this book.
July 16, 2020
A well-done collation of the realm of mindfulness with specificity towards athletics. Packed full of insightful quotes and lessons, The Mindful Athlete is made digestible and easily actionable for athletes and people of all walks. There is much to be learned for anyone who reads this book. I would recommend Mumford’s The Mindful Athlete to anyone looking to gain a unique perspective on the process of introspective mindfulness and it’s ability to unlock positive growth and elevated performance. Below is a list of quotes that I liked from the book:
* It is that sweet spot of relaxed readiness that I found leads to peak learning and performance pg. 15
* Life is available only in the present moment. -Thich nhat hanh - pg. 28
* When Michelangelo was asked how he created his masterpieces, he replied that all he did was to chip away to get to the masterpiece that was already inside. Page 30.
* we emerge into the light not by denying our pain, but by walking through it -Joan borysenko—in other words, the obstacle is the way pg. 46
* The only way out is always through.—Robert frost pg. 50
* Freedom is now or never—j. Krishnamurti
* Without fire in our lives, we sometimes don’t have the internal combustion necessary to change and take risks. Page 51
* We can cultivate control of ourselves and choose with a clear mind how to respond appropriately and effectively in our lives with calmness and wisdom. Page 60
* Being a mindful athlete involves living this truth for yourself, Because there is no separating who you are on the court, field, or yoga mat from who you are in the world at large. That “intrinsic wholeness” serves you wherever you are and in whatever you’re doing. Everything is connected. Page 62
* Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally, as if your life depended on it. - Jon Kabat-Zinn pg. 67
* The minute your mind is elsewhere, the present moment is gone. Page 68
* rowing at its best occurs when you are gliding through the water with such effortlessness and yet such total presence that you almost seem to disappear - Craig lambert in mind over water. Page 73
* Having a mindfulness practice is like watering your garden: it’s the only way to make things grow. Page 75
* Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. -viktor frankl In his book man’s search for meaning. Page 76.
* boredom, anger, sadness or fear are not ‘yours,’ not personal. They are conditions of the mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you. -Eckhart Tolle. Page 80
* Be like water-Bruce Lee pg. 82. Flow=water-like
* What you habitually think largely determines what you will ultimately become—Bruce Lee pg 91
* In the Country of Now, [...]the past no longer exists and the future never will. Page 111
* The mind has to be empty to see clearly -krishnamurti page 113
* When you marry intention with positive mind states through outcome expectation, visualization, and practice, you’re able to achieve great things on and off the court. Page 124
* this is a principle in sports and in life: if you get too comfortable in life, you don’t grow. Page 134
* Leap and the net will appear -john Burroughs page 168
* The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind—W. H. Auden page 213
* Let’s just say that prayer is communication from our hearts to...the animating energy of love we are sometimes bold enough to believe in; to something unimaginably big, and not us. — Anne Lamott page 223
* Pure performance is, ultimately, a leap of faith. Page 234
Let me know your thoughts on these quotes, which ones you resonate with or question, in the comments. And definitely let me know if you decide to read this book yourself!
* It is that sweet spot of relaxed readiness that I found leads to peak learning and performance pg. 15
* Life is available only in the present moment. -Thich nhat hanh - pg. 28
* When Michelangelo was asked how he created his masterpieces, he replied that all he did was to chip away to get to the masterpiece that was already inside. Page 30.
* we emerge into the light not by denying our pain, but by walking through it -Joan borysenko—in other words, the obstacle is the way pg. 46
* The only way out is always through.—Robert frost pg. 50
* Freedom is now or never—j. Krishnamurti
* Without fire in our lives, we sometimes don’t have the internal combustion necessary to change and take risks. Page 51
* We can cultivate control of ourselves and choose with a clear mind how to respond appropriately and effectively in our lives with calmness and wisdom. Page 60
* Being a mindful athlete involves living this truth for yourself, Because there is no separating who you are on the court, field, or yoga mat from who you are in the world at large. That “intrinsic wholeness” serves you wherever you are and in whatever you’re doing. Everything is connected. Page 62
* Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally, as if your life depended on it. - Jon Kabat-Zinn pg. 67
* The minute your mind is elsewhere, the present moment is gone. Page 68
* rowing at its best occurs when you are gliding through the water with such effortlessness and yet such total presence that you almost seem to disappear - Craig lambert in mind over water. Page 73
* Having a mindfulness practice is like watering your garden: it’s the only way to make things grow. Page 75
* Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. -viktor frankl In his book man’s search for meaning. Page 76.
* boredom, anger, sadness or fear are not ‘yours,’ not personal. They are conditions of the mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you. -Eckhart Tolle. Page 80
* Be like water-Bruce Lee pg. 82. Flow=water-like
* What you habitually think largely determines what you will ultimately become—Bruce Lee pg 91
* In the Country of Now, [...]the past no longer exists and the future never will. Page 111
* The mind has to be empty to see clearly -krishnamurti page 113
* When you marry intention with positive mind states through outcome expectation, visualization, and practice, you’re able to achieve great things on and off the court. Page 124
* this is a principle in sports and in life: if you get too comfortable in life, you don’t grow. Page 134
* Leap and the net will appear -john Burroughs page 168
* The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind—W. H. Auden page 213
* Let’s just say that prayer is communication from our hearts to...the animating energy of love we are sometimes bold enough to believe in; to something unimaginably big, and not us. — Anne Lamott page 223
* Pure performance is, ultimately, a leap of faith. Page 234
Let me know your thoughts on these quotes, which ones you resonate with or question, in the comments. And definitely let me know if you decide to read this book yourself!
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April 18, 2025Changed my outlook on mindfulness and the competitive mindset. Hope to “Mumfie” my life.
January 5, 2016
The mindful athlete, by George Mumford, is a guide to mindfulness and how being mindful can help you as an individual and an athlete. He had to overcome addiction and substance abuse in his life, and he used mindfulness and meditation to get past that addiction He has worked with championship athletes, including Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Reggie Jackson. He uses a simple structure to his practice that involves five principles that help build mindfulness, which can lead to pure performance. He uses meditation and thinking techniques to help build mindfulness, concentration, and insight in himself and the people he works with. Some of the techniques he uses have been developed from his former teachers, and some have even been taken from the teachings of Buddha. He mixes all of this to create an interesting book that gives insight into how to improve your thinking as an athlete and as a person.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. As an athlete myself, this book gave me an idea on how to improve my own performance using mindfulness and meditation. When it comes to preparing for the big game or even a math test, this book helps find ways for you to perform at your highest ability and focus.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. As an athlete myself, this book gave me an idea on how to improve my own performance using mindfulness and meditation. When it comes to preparing for the big game or even a math test, this book helps find ways for you to perform at your highest ability and focus.
March 7, 2020
Some of my favourite parts:
Mindfulness - life is available only in the present moment.
We emerge into the light, not by Denaying or pain but by walking through it.
“I fear not a man who has practised 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee
Anyone can hold a grouch, but it takes a person with character to forgive. When you forgive, you release yourself from a painful burden. Forgiveness does not mean what happened was ok, and it does not mean that this person should be still welcome in your life. It just means that you had made peace with the pain, and you are ready to let it go.
The basic difference between a warrior and an ordinary man is that the warrior takes everything as a challenge, while the ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse. The trick he suggests is about what we emphasise. We can either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. Replace work with effort and you have the same the formula. Right effort makes us strong, the wrong effort keeps us miserable. It’s our choice.
“Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.” - Star Wars
You need to commit. You either move forward with intention or you don’t. There is noting in between.
Mindfulness - life is available only in the present moment.
We emerge into the light, not by Denaying or pain but by walking through it.
“I fear not a man who has practised 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee
Anyone can hold a grouch, but it takes a person with character to forgive. When you forgive, you release yourself from a painful burden. Forgiveness does not mean what happened was ok, and it does not mean that this person should be still welcome in your life. It just means that you had made peace with the pain, and you are ready to let it go.
The basic difference between a warrior and an ordinary man is that the warrior takes everything as a challenge, while the ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse. The trick he suggests is about what we emphasise. We can either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. Replace work with effort and you have the same the formula. Right effort makes us strong, the wrong effort keeps us miserable. It’s our choice.
“Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.” - Star Wars
You need to commit. You either move forward with intention or you don’t. There is noting in between.
October 6, 2024
Some notes from this book:
1. Think about the eye of a hurricane, or the calm still center in the middle of the cyclone. No matter how intense the storm or what’s swept up in its gale-force winds, that calm, blue center is always there. The space between stimulus and response. We all have this quiet center within us. Mindfulness reconnects us to this center space, where we fully experience the present moment.
2. Be like water. Response rather than reacts. Go with flow.
3. Focusing too hard on winning can take your focus away from doing the things you need to do to achieve your desired results.
4. Everything is an inner game. What’s in and on your mind determines how well you perform. The center space between stimulus and response is like the eye of the hurricane. The more we practice mindfulness, the more readily we can bring ourselves to this center space.
5. deliberate practice = practice with intention and concentration
Deliberately = consciously and intentionally
Deliberate Practice = motivation + knowledge + immediate informative feedback of performance + repetition.
1. Think about the eye of a hurricane, or the calm still center in the middle of the cyclone. No matter how intense the storm or what’s swept up in its gale-force winds, that calm, blue center is always there. The space between stimulus and response. We all have this quiet center within us. Mindfulness reconnects us to this center space, where we fully experience the present moment.
2. Be like water. Response rather than reacts. Go with flow.
3. Focusing too hard on winning can take your focus away from doing the things you need to do to achieve your desired results.
4. Everything is an inner game. What’s in and on your mind determines how well you perform. The center space between stimulus and response is like the eye of the hurricane. The more we practice mindfulness, the more readily we can bring ourselves to this center space.
5. deliberate practice = practice with intention and concentration
Deliberately = consciously and intentionally
Deliberate Practice = motivation + knowledge + immediate informative feedback of performance + repetition.
September 10, 2024
A good book to understand the importance of meditation. The author takes through his journey of transformation and how flow and meditation has helped him and numerous others.
The book could have been more elaborate than simply stating the usefulness of the practise of meditation and its relation to flow.
It would have been much more impactful, had it also detailed methods of the practise the author used with athletes to get them to optimal performance.
A book that could be recommended for general understanding, but not for implementation.
The book could have been more elaborate than simply stating the usefulness of the practise of meditation and its relation to flow.
It would have been much more impactful, had it also detailed methods of the practise the author used with athletes to get them to optimal performance.
A book that could be recommended for general understanding, but not for implementation.
January 2, 2025
The book felt like it was fifty percent examples from pop culture (Star Wars, Carlos Castaneda, Bruce Lee, etc…) of pretty easy to grasp concepts. The examples didn’t work to illuminate the concepts further. In general the concepts were ones I solidly agree with but the hodgepodge of new age thinking, athletic performance and “zone” talk didn’t move me the way it might have 20-30 years ago when Mumford was first introducing the concepts to athletes. Today, they felt like thoroughly explored ideas being rehashed.
January 31, 2025
Wasn’t my favorite style. Nondescript anecdotes intertwined his teachings just didn’t really convey the message as well as I would’ve liked. There were some interesting nuggets that I was able to take away though.
Being able to enter the space between stimulus and response is how you can access “the zone”. The emphasis on breathing throughout the body to focus is something I wasn’t too familiar with. I’ll be focusing on responding and not reacting moving forward to control some of those distracting emotions.
Being able to enter the space between stimulus and response is how you can access “the zone”. The emphasis on breathing throughout the body to focus is something I wasn’t too familiar with. I’ll be focusing on responding and not reacting moving forward to control some of those distracting emotions.
December 14, 2015
Focus on the present. Throughout the day, we’re distracted by all kinds of stimuli, but when you narrow your focus and concentrate on your body, your breathing and your inner self, you can unlock your full potential and connect with higher levels of consciousness. Mindfulness is the key to reaching your peak performance – whether you’re on or off the court.
September 15, 2024
An interesting read. Hadn’t expected this, but it is founded in Buddhist teachings, combined with scientific facts and data. The author uses stories well to illustrate what he’s teaching. It’s already helped me with some of what I wanted to work on, so I certainly found it useful for the mental side of my game.
December 12, 2022
Enjoyable, easy-to-digest primer on mindfulness techniques, especially as they show up in American sports. Unfortunately, Mumford misses his biggest opportunity by failing to include guides or steps for athletes to practice in order to experience mindfulness on and off the field of play.
January 7, 2025
Audio. Good book on how to stay focused and be excellent at your thing based on Eastern philosophy and ref. to the Flow theory, Meditation (Cornfield) and more. It’s a plus thatMumford shares is own personal story.
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