At Dr. Menaker's site http://www.andrewmenaker.com/ , I found this gem. It is a video of the mental edge that Tampa Bay Rays star young player Evan Longoria used to achieve his elite status in the game. It's about 9-10 minutes but well worth the time. Once a person reaches a certain physical ability, a certain mastery of the skills; the "science" of a task or job, the difference between success and failure is all between the ears. I'm a huge Boston Red Sox fan and have been all my life. How does a guy with the limited physical attributes like Dustin Pedroia get the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in a league where there are some of the most physically gifted athletes in the world? In the end, it comes down to who can perform under pressure. The one who can be in the moment, carefree to focus on what is at hand only, without emotional baggage from the past and without anticipation of unknown outcomes. The "art," rather than the "science" of what one chooses to be involved in, in my opinion, is all about what's between one's ears. Inner peace, inner calm, self-acceptance, being humble and well-grounded: these are the building blocks of sustained excellence and the requirements of prevailing in a highly competitive, performance-based environment.
Here is the video link: http://vimeo.com/6153913
