Want To Learn To Think Big?

Thinking big begins with a state of mind.

A perspective that anything is possible.

When it comes to calisthenics and training, you need to think big, and have a vision of yourself greater than what even you think is possible.

Some time ago I watched the inspiring movie, Miracle, which recounts the true story about the historic victory of the U.S. hockey team at the 1980 Olympic Games coached by the legendary coach, Herb Brooks.

In the movie, Herb Brooks is brilliantly portrayed by actor Kurt Russell and during one of the scenes he is quoted in the pre-USSR game locker room as saying, “Great moments are born from great opportunity…”

Great opportunities come to those who are open and available.

Are you familiar with the term Tunnel Vision?

It is a term often used to describe those who only can see what is directly in front of them. Their peripheral vision is significantly impaired.

This notion can be applied to any area of life.

While it is natural to get caught up in the day-to-day routines of life, the more one gets caught up in the issues the less likely one is to see their long range goals or what I like to call the big picture.

It is the proverbial dilemma of being unable to see the, forest for the trees.

“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.”
– Jonathan Swift

Imagine for a moment that you are at a movie theater.

You are perfectly seated directly in front of several long flowing ruby red velvet curtains that hang from the high vaulted ceilings to the floor below. The lights dim to pitch darkness and the curtains open to a large white canvas screen.

All you can see are the faint shadows of the row of seats in front of you. A brilliant white light streams above your head and suddenly vibrant images of color are projected onto the screen in front of you. The movie has begun. Now let’s say for example that you close your right eye.

Keeping your right eye closed you then take you left hand and form the shape of the letter “O” by joining the tip of your left thumb to your left index and cupping the remaining middle, ring and pinky fingers.

Now still with your right eye closed and your left hand cupped in the form of an “O”, raise your left arm so that your left hand that is cupped is around your left eye. You have formed a sort of make shift tunnel with the cupping of your left hand around your left eye.

As you are seated watching the movie in front of you, you notice that you see only a fraction of what you saw before. By your own doing, you have effectively limited your ability to see the big picture.

The movie of your imagination has been reduced to a tiny portion of what was possible.

Each of us has been given the gift of choice.

We decide what we wish to focus on and what not to focus on. It is through our choices that we begin to shape our destiny. For some their choices lead to wide and expansive highways with spectacular landscape views.

For others they create self-imposed limitations on their choices and view the world of possibilities through a tiny porthole.

The intensity level of business can often times reach a certain point, where we move into Tunnel Vision. By that, I mean business owners literally lose sight of what is important and focus narrowly in the business rather than focusing on the business.

Tunnel vision is often the reason business owners may feel thwarted. With tunnel vision we often lose the ability to make good decisions. We can find ourselves doing things we normally wouldn’t do and saying things we normally wouldn’t say.

If you find yourself losing sight of the big picture take heart you are in good company. The following are examples of quotes from the book, The Experts Speak: The Definitive Compendium of Authoritative Misinformation, by Christopher Cerf and Victor Navasky.

These experts fell victim to their own inability to see beyond the tunnel:

“I think there’s a world market for about five computers.”
-Thomas J. Watson, Chairman of IBM 1943
~

“There’s no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.”
-Ken Olson, President, Digital Equipment Corp. 1977
~

“We don’t like their sound.
Groups of the guitars are on their way out.”
-Decca Recording Company Executive,
turning down the Beatles in 1962

~

“The phonograph… is not of any commercial value.”
-Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of the phonograph 1880

For me,“Thinking Big“is one who has conversations that include more than themselves. It’s about being of service. It’s about letting go of the person you thought you were in order to become there person you always dreamed you could

be. It’s about being great. Thinking big does not rest only in thought it truly takes form in your actions as well. It’s what I like to call “Walking T.A.L..L.” T.A.L.L. is an acronym for:

Thinking Big
Acting Big
Living Big
Loving Big

You see it’s when you are truly walking T.A.L.L. that you are creating your own revolution.

According to Michael Port from his Think Big Revolution web site , there are 10 Essential Strategies for Thinking Bigger About Who You Are and What You Offer The World¹:

1. Have A Mad Passionate Love Affair With Yourself
   What would it feel like to truly have a mad passionate love affair with yourself? I’m talking about a deep and true love – a love for yourself made up of respect and care and ease and support and understanding. This is not a small thing.

   2. Stop Seeking Validation From Others
   Acknowledge your needs and desires not your mother’s, friends, co-workers, society’s, etc. – stop seeking validation from or comparing yourself to others.

   3. Embrace The Power Of Intention
   Your present intentions create your present reality. If you want to change your reality change and strengthen your intentions. And make sure you don’t have any intentions that are in direct conflict.

   4. Always Act On Your Intuition
   I will bet my bottom dollar that you’re intuition has never been wrong. Your intuition is the strongest muscle in your body. Listen to it. Work it out. Stop inappropriately over-relying on your intellect to make decisions. That’s not what it’s for.

   5. Feed Your Body, Mind and Spirit
   Meditate, journal, play; books, tapes, seminars; time with loved ones; fitness/movement; use your imagination, nurture your creativity; embrace life fully; volunteer / do a good deed; love/give freely

   6. Make Big, Bold Promises
   If you haven’t made BIG promises with respect to what you want to accomplish/create you probably won’t. You need to put sound to what you want – or else nobody (read: the universe) will know what you want/need.

   7. Take Action Now
   Your life depends on it! (Whatever you consistently focus on you will arrive at.) Choose to stop holding yourself back; create big (good) problems / take risks / break the rules / embrace change / leaps of faith; delight in uncertainty/discover

   8. Design Environments For Bold Self-Expression
   Design your big environments (for full self-expression) & nourish your big dreams; express yourself through your work; think big / plan big when your emotional energy best supports it (high/positive); manage around worst weaknesses vs. Hiding trying to improve

   9. Think BIG With Others
   Partner/buddy/community/alliances; expose yourself to big thinkers and evolutionary environments/get out and meet people; help others think/act big; be selective; limit time with negative people; be selective re: who you talk to about your big thoughts & projects with; stop bitching, stop having stupid conversations w/others, or criticizing others.

   10. Choose Your Teachers Wisely
   Mentors are all around us, and who we choose to learn from could dramatically change the course of your life for good or for not so good, it all depends on who you are learning from.
   

In conclusion we all have the ability to think big and thereby be big in every area of our lives. It just depends on making the decision to do it.