Clean Run - January 2012 - 38

agility Mind Gym
Passion, Excellence, and Dreams
By Kathy Keats

“When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.” —Unknown
Have you ever had that special moment with your dog when everything went perfectly and you felt completely connected with your dog? Would you like to be able to do that more consistently? The “Agility Mind Gym,” a series of exercises to help you get to that special place more often, will help you to be mentally prepared to run your dog to the best of your ability and to create that amazing connection with your dog on a regular basis.

As you evolve in agility, your goals may change. As you get more competitive, your goals may become more outcome oriented. And other things may happen that may be upsetting so that you lose sight of the process and the joy. Remembering what you love about agility and why you got involved in the first place helps you refocus and regain perspective.

reach those goals and pass them on your journey. And even better, you are not limited by those goals. You are free to follow your passion as far as you want.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
—Henry David Thoreau

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” —Greg Anderson
The pursuit of knowledge and excellence is fueled by passion, a desire to understand and to achieve mastery. A great book to read about the pursuit of excellence and passion is Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. I often hear people who have lost their passion for agility say it isn’t as much fun as it used to be. They feel pressure to perform, or the politics have become too much for them to bear, or they are struggling to reach outcome goals such as a specific title or championship. If you enjoy the process and follow your passion, you

Look often at your list of dreams. Post it around your home or work place. Over the next several months, we will talk more about mental skills like visualization applied specifically to agility. Right now I want you to know the one thing that makes visualization effective is the frequency with which you picture something. Hold your dreams and passions close and think of them often. See them as already having happened and you have already achieved them. That will start a strong foundation for the rest of our work together. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

...................Passion..................
Having a passion for agility makes you special. Many people never find their passion. When you are passionate about an activity, it doesn’t seem like work. It energizes you, relaxes you, makes you feel good, gives you a goal and a focus, and brings you joy. Write down five things you enjoy about agility and why you are passionate about the sport. What are your dreams?

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
—Lao-tzu

Kathy Keats has been competing in elite athletics her entire life, with great success. She has been fascinated with human potential and peak performance and has dedicated much of her life to learning how to apply these principles in her various endeavours, as well as teaching others how to reach their potential. Kathy's success at the national and international level in multiple venues demonstrates a plan for success, not simply a talent in one area. Kathy wants to see everyone become the best they can be and reach their goals in whatever life path they choose. You can reach her at kathy@theagilitycoach.ca. 38 Clean Run | January 12

Clean Run - January 2012

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