We shouted at the TV screen with excitement. The year was 1994 , and our team had finally made it to the playoffs.For the first time since 1972, New Yorkers had a shot at being the NBA champions.
Led by all stars like Patrick Ewing and John Starks, there was no way we could lose! We just knew that shiny gold trophy would be coming home to the Big Apple. Full of pride in our city, we watched as our beloved Knickerbockers dribbled up and down the court. Quarter by quarter, we got closer and closer to bringing the title back to New York and winning it all…And then, we lost.
The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks 85 to 78, and I was so disappointed that I never cheered for those bums…I mean, the team, again. But when my sons got the chance to play ball alongside one of the season’s top players, I couldn’t say no.
I hadn’t thought about New York’s home team in years, but when I Googled Trey Burke, the guy who’d be showing my kids how to shoot free throws–I learned a few things about mindfulness, meditation, and manifesting.
Although he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this year, Trey Burke left his mark in New York. His on the court skills made him a popular addition to the team.
In an interview with the New York Post, the 6’0″ point guard explained how meditating changed his mindset on the court. “I started studying the mind more in high school,” he said. “[There] was a technique of meditation that I used to use before every game where I would get to a state of mind where I focus in on my breathing, and I take about 10, 15 minutes to clear my mind from any thoughts, and then I just close my eyes and I just focus on what I want to see in the game.”
After he began practicing meditation, Burke says, “I was more confident, more efficient.”Visualizing how he wanted to play during game time helped him to become one of the team’s most talented players.
The technique isn’t just for professional basketball players–being mindful allows us all to focus on the present moment. When it comes to the classroom, kids can benefit from practicing mindfulness too. Mindful.com defines mindfulness as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Being mindful allows us to focus, regulate our stress and decrease anxiety.
“For children, mindfulness can offer relief from whatever difficulties they might be encountering in life,” mindfulness teacher Annaka Harris told the New York Times. “It also gives them the beauty of being in the present moment.”
During a challenging spelling test or an argument on the playground, kids can use mindfulness techniques to calm down and relax. Simple exercises like feeling their heartbeats or listening to their breath can help children de-escalate stressful situations.
“I try to go back to that place when I’m on the court and I’m about to tap into anger, to an emotion that I don’t want to express to the public,” says Burke.
Affirmations also play a part in his power on the court. Burke talks about one game where he scored a career high 42 points.
“I had a decision to make: Continue to dwell on the thoughts that got me to this point — which is uncertainty, hesitation — or speak over the situation and dismiss the thoughts that led you to this situation. And I just started speaking over the game, “I’m gonna take over the game to help this team win.” Just started speaking affirmations, and I started controlling my thoughts that game. The whole game literally turned all the way around.
While they won’t be joining the NBA any time soon, my boys did get a lesson in focusing on the present moment and visualizing their success.
Score one for mindfulness.
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