Why All Athletes Should Practice Meditation and a Create Abundance Mindset

Article by Zhang Xinyue of Create Abundance

All competitive athletes with the goal of being the best in their sport are looking for ways to gain an edge over their competition. Whether it’s searching for the best training methods, techniques to add to their playstyle, or data on their opponents, athletes should keep an open mind about practices that can give them a competitive advantage. One practice that many high-level athletes use to enhance their performance is meditation and a mindset of creating abundance.

Some of the greatest athletes in history such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Arthur Ashe have touted the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and positive thinking on their athletic performance. Michael Jordan once told Oprah, “I meditate every day and I usually do it for ten or fifteen minutes in the morning, as that prepares me to face whatever comes next.” During his championship run with the Bulls in the 90s, Jordan worked with a meditation expert on concepts such as “putting the we before the me, while nurturing the me.”

In team-based sports, this is a valuable mindset for athletes to cultivate. Creating abundance means moving in unison with others and yourself. Connectedness and self-respect are key traits to mastering the mental challenges of sports. There are a multitude of distractions and stressors competing for athletes’ attention. Taking a moment to center yourself, quiet your mind, and become present in the moment can help keep these complications from affecting your performance on the field or court. A positive mindset of abundance can give you the mental fortitude to triumph over all your opponents.

Zhang Xinyue is the founder of Create Abundance organization and author of the book with the same name. Create Abundance is a book full of advice on practicing body-mind-spirit cultivation. IT aims to promote a meaningful and applicable approach to the philosophical issues in life.