The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life (12 page)

See also
adults

patience,
7
,
38
,
74
,
90

defined,
77

and discipline,
16

and Japanese culture,
37

as most sought-after quality,
77

and perception,
75–93

and perspective,
91

with self,
27

steps toward,
79–80

See also
impatience

peace, inner,
27
,
28
,
51
,
61

perception

and emotions,
127

evolution of,
107

and patience,
75–93

and perfection,
80

shift in,
85
,
110

perfection

changing concept of,
110

and ego,
50–51

end point of,
43

evolution of,
107

and flowers,
47–49
,
51

and happiness,
44–45
,
46–47

images of,
45

as inspiration,
45–46

106

as measuring device,
45–46

and nature,
51

and patience,
80

and perception,
80

personal images of,
44

and slowness,
103

true,
47
,
50–51

perseverance,
6
,
38
,
77

personality,
111

perspective,
43–61

changing,
91

and patience,
91

shifting,
92

philosophies, world,
28

pianos, Japanese,
36–37

piano tuning,
14–15

and
4
“S”s,
98–101

play.
See
recreational activities

pogo sticks,
127–28

positive reinforcement,
24

practice

art of,
1

defined,
22

finding discipline for,
18

golf,
4–6
,
17–20

good,
14
,
21

and habits,
65

immersing oneself in,
20

vs. learning,
21–22

mechanics of,
6
,
13

and mistakes,
24

and recreational activities,
55–56

shifting perspective toward,
4–6

and stress,
14

practicing mind,
2–3
,
8

simple rules for creating,
40

prejudgment,
55
,
56–57

See also
judgment

preparation, lack of,
81–82

present-moment attitude,
11
,
20
,
23
,
24
,
40

awareness of,
133–34

and children,
125

feedback,
26

and focused awareness,
54–55

as habit,
135

and impatience,
78

inability to stay in,
28

maintaining,
59–61

and martial arts,
53–54

and patience,
79–80

and perfection,
49–50

process,
39

stamina to pursue,
51

and stress,
57–59

value of focusing on,
41

preshot routine,
69–71

pressures, self-imposed,
49

priorities,
31
,
123–24
,
130–31
,
136

problem-solving,
116
,
120

process

getting lost in,
15

as goal,
21

as influenced by culture,
28–29

and Japanese culture,
35–37

and present-moment awareness,
23

as priority,
31

shifting from product goals,
23–24
,
40

vs. product,
17–41

process-oriented mentality,
54

procrastination,
96

product

and cultural influences,
28

as goal,
21

letting go of attachment to,
22

as priority,
31

shifting to process mindset,
23–24
,
40

vs. process,
17–41

productivity,
7

progress,
85

and effort,
132

measuring against goals,
25–26

psychology, sports,
66–67
,
115

R

 

recreational activities

and prejudgment,
56–57

vs. work,
55–56

reinforcement, positive,
24

relativity, point of,
106

religions, world,
28
,
113

repetition, deliberate,
67
,
68

restraint,
90

right and wrong,
109

routine,
69–70
,
70–71

rushing,
100

S

 

satisfaction, short-term,
38

school,
29–31

self, true,
110–11

self-awareness,
7
,
13
,
88
,
110

See also
awareness self-confidence,
27
,
91

self-control,
10
,
121

self-discipline,
7

self-discovery,
6

self-doubt,
95

self-empowerment,
28
,
41

self-guidance,
40

self-improvement,
63

self-judgment,
26–27

self-motivation,
45–46

self-observation,
54
,
64

self-playing organs,
87–90

self-preservation,
53–54

self-worth,
29–31

“short,”
97
,
102

simplicity,
94
,
99
,
136
“simplify,”
95
,
101
,
102

skills mastery,
5

“slow,”
97–98
,
101
,
102

making into habit,
103

paradox of,
97–98

“small,”
96–97
,
101
,
102

solutions, focus on,
120

sports

and DOC process,
114–15

psychology,
66–67
,
115

standardized testing,
29–31

stress,
20
,
91
,
99

and alignment with the Observer,
112

and decision making,
57

and judgment,
111

and learning,
67

and practice,
14

struggles,
9

success

and control,
133

repeatable,
96

survival,
135

“S” words,
95–103

T

 

task mentality,
82–85

teaching,
123–31

with actions,
128–29

technology,
9

testing, standardized,
29–31

thoughts

awareness of,
9

controlling,
10

disconnection from actions,
64

time

concept of,
124–25

perception of passage of,
98–101

and things of lasting value,
137

tooth brushing,
102–3

tranquility,
112

triggers,
69–72

true self,
110–11

TV,
19
,
137

U

 

undisciplined mind,
9–10

urgency, sense of,
79

V

 

value,
137

victory,
115

video games,
54–55

W

 

wealth,
80

well-being,
81–82

“what-if’s,”
58–59

will,
22

winning,
115

wisdom,
122

work,
90

and prejudgment,
56–57

vs. recreational activities,
55–56

and triggers,
71–72

worrying,
78–79
,
115–16

Z

 

Zen,
52

 

T
homas M. Sterner has studied Eastern and Western philosophy and modern sports psychology and trained as a jazz pianist. For more than twenty-five years, he served as the chief concert piano technician for a major performing arts center. He prepared and maintained the concert grand piano for hundreds of world-renowned (and demanding) musicians and symphony conductors, and his typical workday required constant interaction with highly disciplined and focused artists. At the same time, he operated a piano remanufacturing facility, rebuilding vintage pianos to factory-new condition.

Sterner has parlayed what he learned from his profession into a love of practice. He is an accomplished musician, private pilot, student of archery, and avid golfer, and practicing these activities fills his spare time. He has also worked in the sound and video arts fields as a recording engineer, audio and video editor and processor, and composer.

He has produced a radio show about
The Practicing Mind
and continues to teach his techniques to businesspeople and at sports clinics. He lives in Wilmington, DelawareHis website is
www.thepracticingmind.com
.

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