How NFL Players Have Learned to Create Abundance

Article by Zhang Xinyue of Create Abundance

American football is one of the most high-octane, adrenaline-inducing sports in the world. From long passes downfield to bone-crushing tackles from the defense, it can feel impossible to find a moment of calm among all the chaos. That’s why you’ll be surprised to learn that many NFL players are cultivating a mindset of mindfulness and creating abundance to achieve success on the football field.

Players such as Derrick Morgan, Tyrann Mathieu, and Joe Barksdale have learned how to achieve a positive, calm mindset through meditation as a way to keep them focused during high-stress moments on the field.

Morgan explained, “When you’re playing as a kid, when you’re just playing for fun, you’re able to play more freely. But the higher you rise in the sport, the more business-oriented it becomes, the more performance and results-oriented it becomes, so to counteract those things, you need meditation.”

Leaving behind negative thoughts such as ego, fear, and anger makes it easier to perform while enjoying the game. At the end of the day, sports are supposed to be fun. Almost all professional athletes entered the league because they love the game of football. Pressure and negative emotions lead to overthinking. Athletes perform best when the game is instinctual and almost subconscious to them.

Practicing mindfulness and meditation allows you to keep focused on the task at hand. It allows you to keep the right perspective on the game and life, keeping you present in the moment. Developing this mindset can help you play with joy and calmness even when there’s a 230-pound linebacker breathing down your neck.

Zhang Xinyue is the founder of Create Abundance organization and author of the book with the same name. Create Abundance is a book full of advice on practicing body-mind-spirit cultivation. IT aims to promote a meaningful and applicable approach to the philosophical issues in life.