The Paradox of the Anticipation Circuit

We have become so much more aware of the power of the subconscious mind and how quickly it can make things right. This is especially true in shooting clays because we see them every day.

I’ve seen some gun mounts where the person didn’t even deserve to be in the same ZIP code as the target, but because their eyes are on the bird and their hands are in front and the gun is in front, they hit it. And it is just absolutely amazing how sloppy you can be with gun mount fundamentals, and that unconscious brain unchecked coupled with target focus will put that muzzle in front of that bird and break that bird.

When we see a student struggling, we see their conscious brains going over the next attempt. And if we can just get them to fire that circuit without fear, then the subconscious will begin to do things. But they are so afraid to do this, and this prolongs the success that those so badly need and want.

It’s the subconscious firing of the circuit. You can think all you want to. You can plan all you want to, but you’ve got to turn it loose and fire that circuit subconsciously in order for the brain to learn it the quickest.

The paradox, really, is that we all can use this anticipation circuit if we will just get out of its way and not let fear enter into the equation.

When you have a picture of what’s happening, and when it takes over and you have one of those zone experiences, guess what? It takes the fear out of it, and you begin to realize what is within you that allows you to release that part of you that can do it… if you’ll just let it go.

If you weren’t afraid of what might happen, you might find out what could happen.

 

This is an excerpt from the November 2012 Coaching Hour podcast. You can listen to it and read a written transcript, along with more than 20 years of archived episodes with your Knowledge Vault membership.