Could THIS be THAT One?

Of course there are others, I say, in a losing effort to reestablish calm to the turbulence. It is not as simple as it appears on the screen behind me. There is more to it, a complex set of variables all contributing to the overall effect. There are interlacing dynamics in a relentless dance of tension and release, the need for high speed problem solving in not just real time but quantum time, and of course the manager's ability to successfully place each of these isolated, random and hyperbolic elements into play in their proper place and time. All this for a single goal, to achieve a harmonic balance of optimal experience, something my colleagues are now calling the dynamic flow state. Or, as I prefer to say, that place where all the good stuff meets for happy hour. 

Taking advantage of the momentary silence as the audience processed the largess of this, I took a sip of water from the plastic bottle that had been patiently waiting on the steel lectern. Sensing an atmospheric change to the energy level in the room I complemented the water with one deep and satisfying breath. Both with positive effect for everyone assembled. 

We had been chasing the elusive definition of the latest buzzword in the health and fitness world, or more precise, in the training and testing branch of that tree, the limb (as in way out on it) known as a persons ACQ; Athletic Character Quotient. We were getting closer to a definitive and precise sentence that contained all the nuance, every bit of minutiae and the full, complete and accurate explanation of this over-the-top existential theoretical gold mine. I, embarrassingly, used the  imagery of Einstein at the blackboard with only a tiny piece of chalk remaining at the bottom of a huge blackboard of hand scribed calculus and physics notations, ending with him so excited about the sum, that he succumbed to the emotional hubris of the moment and called it ‘special’. Not just a relativity theory but the special relativity theory. BIG TIME STUFF. 

My quick water and oxygen break successful, I returned to the crowd in a heightened, yet more relaxed and confident state. This is getting fun. We are on to something - and I am convinced that the group is feeling 'it' too. There are more atoms circling among us, moving at a greater speed, with a higher vibration and with a noticeable increase in power and potential. One can almost hear the after-effects of their slicing through the room and see the glow where they had been just milliseconds ago. Special indeed.

I asked for a quick review. Let’s write down (we are now using a white board) the elements that compromise an athletes ACQ, maybe that would help. [Cut to the audience and a series of vertically nodding heads], so go ahead and shout them out and I will try to keep up with the transcriptions. 

Presence.

Focus.

Relaxed focus.

Awareness.

Knowledge.

Endurance.

Wisdom.

Speed.

Power.

Vibration.

Frequency.

Timing.

Movement.

Artistry.

Grace.

Trajectory.

Pacing.

Joy.

Gratitude.

Forgiveness.

Synergy.

Compassion.

Desire.

Courage.

Instinct.

Vision.

Hope.

Leadership.

Morality.

Flow.

I stop. Making a show of placing the marker back in its tray, I turn and face the audience, now fully engaged with the exercise and wanting more, an encore of collective consciousness and creative flow. I adjust the mic on the lectern and announce that it took us three hours and all the real estate this giant white board contains to get to that bottom line. 

And it contains all the others above it. Is there value here? Is that value something that might impact an athletes ACQ? Could our search for meaning be a single word? Could this be that one?