The Attitude Challenge
Here is a crazy-wacko, potentially thought-provoking challenge for ya all. Hope you’ll find it fun and helpful, or … voo-doo - like. Whatever.
Background
When I was 8 years old, growing up in Russia, my mom enrolled me and my sister, Alla, into a Spy School. It was called this way because the classes were meant to develop children’s creativity, physical and mental stamina, focus, bravery, and a myriad of other amazing qualities. Without going into the details of what crazy (and fun!) sh*t went on in those classes, what I remember the most is a lonely, dusty chessboard sitting in the corner of the classroom. “Agent OK739 (i.e. myself) will utilize this tool one day to save the world from the evil,” I told myself.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t too long before my mom pulled us out of the class (or maybe my sister and I were simply “eliminated”). I suspect the reason might have been the following. One day, the instructor challenged us to lay down on the floor and bare our tummies. He would then hold a knife in his hand about a meter above a person’s tummy pointing down. Our goal was to focus, visualize and believe that when he drops the knife, it would not pierce our tummy. The assumption is that if you set your mind on it, nothing would happen to your tummy. But if you thought you’d get hurt, then the knife would in fact hurt you. It was a psychological exercise as much as it was about conquering our fears. (Yes, this stuff wouldn’t fly here in Canada or even the States. I’m sure the instructor would be jailed, never mind sued. Anyway …).
This exercise was for volunteers only. Personally, I said: “no freaking way!”. But a few brave kids did it, including my sister (oh Alla, I still admire you for this!). We watched. We awed. We gasped. I imagined being splattered in blood from the poor victim so, right off the bat, I sat at the back, hoping also to be invisible. But, nothing happened. The knife just bounced back a little after hitting those tender tummies and fell on the floor, each time. However, it did leave a tiny red mark on Alla’s tummy for a few days. “See!” I told her. “It could have been bigger, or worse ….” Eventually, I told my mom about this and we never went back. I’m pretty sure I was supposed to keep it a secret. Oh well …
But the idea of being as strong as a spy and invincible, stuck. I played a few chess games in my youth, while imagining myself as Jamie Bond, the female version of James Bond. I played like someone’s life depended on the outcome of the game. It was fun. Perhaps a bit helpful even, but the effect was very minimal. There was no physical fear or association with danger of any sort.
However, I now believe that the effect of such imaging, the focus, the drive, the killer-attitude, can be amplified if you add a physical sensation. When accomplished - watch yourself play! And this is what we’ll try to do here.
Are you now asking “Whaaaaa?” Let’s examine this closer…
The Attitude
What attitude do you bring to your games? Most of us live in a pretty safe environment. No lion, no hurricane is chasing us. We don’t need to fight for our lives. Our adrenaline, in that matter, is usually pretty low. But we are chess players and chess is a combat game, where one of the kings has to die, figuratively speaking.
When I signed up for chess.com last year, I would sit on my lazy-boy chair, in a casual, relaxing pose, laptop on my thighs, legs fully extended as if I’m on a beach. I was playing quick 10-minute games and I was losing A LOT of them. No wonder. How can you “fight” in such a relaxed posture? Remember, your body language reflects your attitude and vice versa.
So, how can we set the right attitude?
The Challenge
My challenge to you is, firstly, a physical one. Think of one (safe) physical activity that scares you. Then dive fully into it and overcome your fear. In my case, it is/was swimming in cold water (see below). NOTE: Just please be safe! Last thing I want to hear about is some sky-diving accident.
Once you overcome your physical challenge and fear, you will start feeling like you’re on top of the world, like you’re a real “fighter”. That feeling will be both psychological AND physical. You want both. Bring this attitude and physical sensation to your chess games and see if you notice any improvement in your play.
My Challenge - example
If you ever catch me swimming in cold waters (we are talking about 65 degrees Fahrenheit here), you will know that it normally takes me about 20 minutes to get in. I would start by poking the water with my toes, then slowly splashing my feet for five minutes, getting used to the cold. Then, even slower, I would go deeper up to my knees, gradually working all the way up to the heart and then splash! I’d swim for my dear life, screaming my head out for … 30 seconds. The rest of the day I spend shivering and drinking hot tea. The invigorating feeling I get afterward, however, is priceless and totally worth it. Still, I feel like a wimp. The cold lake has power over me.
A few weeks ago, I decided to overcome my fear of swimming in cold water. I wanted to conquer the lake and not the other way around. It was 64 Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) outside, cloudy with strong, cold winds. The lake was 63 degrees. Pretty cold for swimming according to my standards. Perfect for a challenge.
I took one look at the lake, breathed in all the wind and amassed all the courage I had. Then I pictured an imaginary child drowning in the lake (Bonus points if you can use your imagination!) and I jumped from the dock. Overall, it took seconds for me to fully get in the water and start swimming against the waves. Fear conquered! I even swam for over 5 minutes, relishing the cold.
When I got out, wow, I ROARED. I conquered the lake, my fears, my procrastination of getting into the water. I got out of my comfort zone and I felt REVIVED! And then I did it again … and again.
Chess is 30% psychological. And from now on, that is the attitude and physical sensation I want to bring to my (serious) games. Ha! And I hope you will too. Try it.
Best of luck! And don’t forget to report back in your comments!
