Past? Future? Present? = Depression, Anxiety, Optimal Performance Not too long ago, we spent some time with my friend Brian Cain—who happens to be, in my opinion, at least tied for first as THE world’s best mental toughness coach. One particular line from his 10 Pillars of Mental Performance Mastery has been popping up in my brain and I want to make sure we take a moment to chat about it. Here it is. Brian tells us (via Coach Kenny in his fable): “Remember, depression is obsession with the past, anxiety is obsession about the future, and optimal performance is obsession about the present.” Let’s think about that for a moment… Depression is obsession about the PAST. Anxiety is obsession about the FUTURE. Optimal performance? That requires an obsession with the PRESENT. Of course, that’s a deliberately hyperbolic oversimplification of depression and anxiety. And… It’s a powerful perspective. All of which begs the question: What are YOU obsessed about these days? I repeat: “Remember, depression is obsession with the past, anxiety is obsession about the future, and optimal performance is obsession about the present.” Here’s to activating our Soul Force by getting our Energy to Heroic levels and Focusing it on What’s Important NOW all day every day. Especially, as always, TODAY. Anxiety and depression BEGONE. Optimal performance LET’S GO!!
