Sometimes the most obvious ideas are the hardest to apply when it comes to our self.
About 20 years ago I was listening to a cassette tape by Zig Ziggler, renowned author and speaker. As I recall the tape was titled “Your Input Determines You Output.” What I got out of listening to that tape has literally changed my life.
Zig spent about 40 minutes talking about a computer system that he had, that at one time was an absolute mess! He used a computer to build mailing lists so he could mail information to prospects. Problem was, some of his prospects got 4,5 6 and even 12 mailings, all at the same time and all with the same information!
He also used his computer as a billing system and that was a mess also, some customers getting multiple billings and some getting none! He finally hired someone that came in and in short order got everything running smoothly. The basic problem that was discovered was that the information going into the system was not properly formatted!
In computer parlance it’s called GIGO, garbage in, garbage out. I know this because I’ve spent my life in the computer field, but I never consciously applied this GIGO principal to myself.
In Part One of this article I talked about two books, Psycho-Cybernetics and Self Hypnosis. If you are one of those that do not believe in all that “positive thinking garbage”, then this article is not for you. It’s like someone said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right!”
I also remember Zig Ziggler telling about the golfer that gets up on the tee, takes a look at his ball, looks down the fairway at the pond to the side of the green, looks at the ball again, swings his club back, hits the ball in the pond, and then says “I KNEW I WAS GONNA DO THAT!” Zigs comment is that if he knew that he was “gonna do that”, why did he hit the ball!
The idea that you can use your mind to improve almost anything you do (or want to be able to do better) is not new. Athletes from all sports use some form of visualization to mentally practice their moves and see themselves making the perfect shot, jump, run, throw, toss, roll, etc. You’ve probably heard about this technique on some TV special but never gave much thought about how you could apply the same principals to the many things in life that you do.
It doesn’t matter if it’s basketball, golf, track, bowling, baseball, football, hockey, ping pong, checkers, chess or tossing the dice, mental visualization gives you the opportunity to practice without having to go to the gym, field, court, lane or casino.
How many times have you heard Olympic athletes say, “I always dreamed of winning …” or “I always saw myself standing on …” They (whoever they are) say, “Be careful of what you dream about, make sure it’s what you really want, because if you dream about it long enough, you’ll probably get it.”
What really happens is that if you dream (or think) about something you really want (desire) you will start to do those things that will help you get whatever it is you want.
The naysayers say, “Well I tried that and it didn’t work for me.” What they don’t tell you is that they never changed anything or did anything differently. Just sitting around dreaming and doing nothing will get you nothing! You have to add action with your desires. (That’s why people are so indecisive when it comes to themselves. Decisions require change, which in turn requires action.) Just because star athletes use visualization to improve, doesn’t mean they quit practicing!
The same holds true for your dice tossing. Continue to do the physical practice and add in the visualization when you can.
So, how do you do it, you ask? Thank you, good question. Let me tell you what I do.
When I first started mental visualization I always needed a quiet place where I wouldn’t be disturbed. This is like anything else in that the more you practice the better you will become at visualization. Today it doesn’t matter to me as I can “go off” for a bit waiting in airports, on plane flights, waiting for my wife in a parking lot, or anywhere that I have a few minutes and won’t be disturbed. Do you have an office? Can you close the door at lunch? Can you go sit in your car for a few minutes? Be creative and you’ll find numerous times during the day to practice your visualization. What better way to drop off to sleep at night? Ok, never mind!
Just find a comfortable spot, close your eyes, and visualize walking up to a crap table to your favorite spot. What color is the felt? How many people are there? Can you hear the slot machines in the background, the music? Hear the dealer shout “Yo eleven!”
You toss down $300 and your player’s card. The dealer gives your card and your money to the boxman and asks you if you want all green. You tell him no. He gives you a stack of red and a stack of green, which you pick up and put in the rack. The shooter to your right sevens out and the dealers collect the chips. The dice come to you. You put down a $5 pass line bet, set the dice for a come out roll (5/4:5/3), grip the dice in you favorite grip (can you feel the dice?), make sure your stance is comfortable and weight distributed properly, checkout your landing spot, close your eyes briefly and see a nice gentle toss and the dice landing and coming up 7! Now take a deep breath and execute your throw.
At this point you can visualize all sorts of outcomes including specific dice reactions based on the table. You can visualize any adjustments you would make based on the outcome of your toss and the reaction of the dice to your toss, the spot they hit, location of chips or any other factors.
Visualize positive outcomes! Loooong rolls, hitting number after number and having a winning session. (I’m sure Tiger Woods does not visualize missing a putt!) When you finally seven-out, color up and discover that you are a +$745 for the session! Not bad! Next time I’ll do better!
The idea is to involve as many of your senses as possible and make it as real as you can. The more realistic you can make it, the more benefit you’ll get out of your mental practice.
For those of you that tell me you can’t do it, just tell me you have never, not visualized a romantic encounter with someone of the opposite sex … and had no reaction.
Just remember, any win is better than any loss any day.
Paul
