Flow beats fixation (2).

On Zen writings #2

Here are three main insights for athletes and others keen on top performance from an article "Whirlpools and Billiard Balls" by Malcolm Martin and published by Tricycle here on June 21, 2022.

1. You’re a Whirlpool, Not a Billiard Ball

• Story/Example: The article compares the self to a whirlpool in a river—fluid, temporary, and interconnected—versus a rigid billiard ball that resists change.
• Takeaway: Fighting to be "solid" (perfect, unchanging) creates tension; flow comes from embracing impermanence.
• Sports Parallel: Like a quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) improvising after a broken play, or a surfer (Carissa Moore) adjusting to each wave’s shift—success isn’t about rigid control, but adaptive flow.
• Actionable Drill: "Impermanence Practice": During training, intentionally change one variable (e.g., shooting with your non-dominant hand) to rehearse adaptability.

2. Blur the Lines to See Clearly

• Story/Example: The "mist in the mountains" (yugen) metaphor—life’s boundaries (self/other, win/lose) are illusions.
• Takeaway: Obsessing over categories ("I’m losing!" "They’re better!") distracts from the present moment.
• Sports Parallel: Like a marathoner (Eliud Kipchoge) ignoring mile markers to focus on rhythm, or a tennis player (Naomi Osaka) who stops judging shots as "good/bad" mid-point.
• Actionable Drill: "No-Labels Warmup": For 5 minutes, practice without keeping score or judging outcomes—just notice sensations (e.g., ball sound, foot pressure).

3. Paint Outside the Numbers

• Story/Example: Society’s "paint-by-numbers" identities (roles, labels) limit us; Zen reveals life’s fluid, interconnected "gray areas."
• Takeaway: Letting go of fixed identities ("I’m a loser," "I’m the star") frees performance.
• Sports Parallel: Like a gymnast (Simone Biles) who trains joyfully beyond medals, or a soccer team (Iceland’s 2016 Euro run) that plays beyond "underdog" labels.
• Actionable Drill: "Role Reversal": Play a drill in a position you’re bad at—lean into the "gray" of learning.

Why All This Matters: Athletes waste energy on rigid self-concepts; embracing fluidity unlocks creativity and resilience.

Whirlpools win.