I was at the dentist (my husband) the other day and had a root canal done (yes, even dentists go to the dentist).  There I was, in the dental chair, with a blanket over me to keep me warm, my mouth propped open, no discomfort whatsoever, no sedation and no nitrous, and I was in the ZONE.  What, am I crazy?  You might find it hard to believe that someone could possibly be in the zone while in the dental chair having a root canal done, but it’s true.  I was oblivious to my surroundings, my body was still, my mind was focused, music was playing, and I was in da zone.

This experience got me thinking about the ZONE. An article from the Mayo Clinic states that “Being in the zone generally means being in a state in which your mind and body are working in harmony.  You’re calm yet energized, challenged yet confident, focused yet instinctive.” 

Let’s take a closer look at the Z-O-N-E:

 Z:  ZERO IN  You can quiet your mind, tune out all the “chatter” in the background (both in the environment and in your head), and zero in on whatever you want.  You are focused: on your goals, what’s next for you, a project you’re working on, a procedure.  It happens all the time at the office.  You’re prepping teeth for crowns, you’re focused and absorbed in the moment, you’re in the zone and the next thing you know, you’re dismissing the patient.   You lose track of time when you’re in the zone.        

 O:  ONE  You are one with yourself.  No outside “stuff” allowed.  You are free from tension and worries.  Perhaps you are swimming laps in the pool, flowing with the water, or doing yoga or meditating.  For me, it’s performing the graceful movements of tai chi.  You are in touch with your body and are able to listen to your instincts.

 N:  NEWS  Consider the zone your news station.  This is the place to come and allow your creative juices to flow.  New ideas, new projects, a solution to a problem you’ve been experiencing all come out of the zone.  It is usually during the quiet times when brainstorms occur, not when you’re running around in a frenzy.  Allow yourself the time to create the news. 

 E:  ENERGY  Being in the zone and then coming out of it brings energy to your life.  You are ready to rock ‘n roll and get on with it.  You have gained clarity and confidence and are geared up for whatever is next.  This positive energy will propel you forward towards your goals and make you a peak performer in your life.

Wondering how to get into the Zone?  Follow these tips:
• Give yourself the time and space to enter the zone.  Get away from the hustle and bustle, reduce your distractions, and shove out your to-do list from your mind.
• Use relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and a one word mantra to still your mind, body, and spirit.
• Use guided imagery to your advantage.  While swimming, imagine yourself flowing easily and freely through the water.  While doing dentistry, allow your artistic capabilities to take over, let the handpiece flow and keep a view of the desired result in sight.  Your movements then become effortless.
• Imagine yourself succeeding and reaching your goals with ease.
• When your mind begins to wander and you lose focus, shake the intrusion off.  Bring yourself back to the moment. 
• Find an exercise which brings you into the zone. Walk, cycle, swim, jog.
• A hobby or a craft can also take you into the zone.
• Listen to music.  Someone told me recently that listening to baroque music in the largo tempo helps your creative side to surface more readily, so I bought this CD and play it when I am in my office.  So far so good.  You can order it from www.bobdavies.com
• Yoga, tai chi, and chi gong are great portals to the zone, as is meditation.

Become a peak performer in your life!  Get in the zone and maximize the time you spend there for it will do wonders for your well-being.  Arising will be a deep inner calm, leading to increased energy and confidence in all that you do.

“The great omission in American life is solitude…that zone of time and space, free from the outside pressures, which is the incinerator of the spirit.”
 Unknown

“Your mind is your instrument.  Learn to be its master and not its slave.”
 Remez Sasson

“A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady self-awareness inner energies wake up and work miracles without effort on your part.”
 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Having a root canal done is not my usual mode to enter the zone.  I enjoy my solitude and it is in those moments when I can quiet my mind and just “be” that I find that place of inner calm.  I can find it in tai chi, often described as moving meditation. The graceful movements bring me physical and mental balance in addition to stillness and peace. Tai chi forces me to clear the “stuff” from my mind so that I can focus on the slow gentle movements.   In the process I can actually feel the negative energy leave my body and the positive gates of energy or qi open.  The breathing movements of chi gong also enhance my well-being.

I can also enter the zone when I am driving.  Some of my best brainstorms have come at those times and I have actually stopped the car and written down my thoughts.  Walking can also get me there and I’m working on the baroque music theory.  I do know that being in the zone brings me more joy, more aliveness, more confidence, and the ability to go with the flow of life.  All of which adds up to more balance in my life.

Have a great week and be in the ZONE.