Playing Not To Lose

Playing it safe comes with a whole lot of baggage to weigh you down for a lifetime. Find out the secret ingredient that makes the decision to "go for it" more likely to happen.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Playing Not to Lose

Playing it safe has its place. But living your whole life that way? That’s a losing game.

I’ve seen it a hundred times watching golf tournaments. The front runner heads into the final holes, starts playing it safe, and suddenly . . . the door swings wide open for everyone chasing him.

The thinking seems to go, “If I just do what I normally do, I’ll mess this up and lose.”

Now, sure — it’s smart to focus when you’re standing at a big decision point, whether it’s in sports or in life. But there’s a difference between focused and cautious.

Cautious feels different in your body. Focus feels steady. Caution? That’s fear.

And when fear shows up, so does tension. A tense body isn’t built for its best performance. It’s like holding a cup of tea with shaky hands — sooner or later, you’re going to spill it.

Of course, there are people who “go for broke” all the time. Statistically? Their odds of winning are about the same as someone playing not to lose.

The problem comes when you take a fear from the past and project it onto the future. Suddenly your brain’s asking, “What will people think if I gamble and lose? They’ll call me a choker.” And just like that, you dig into your bag of bad habits.

Focus is different. Focus shuts down that fearful inner conversation. It locks your energy on the moment, and when you’re in the moment, the past and the future fade. That’s when you see your real options.

Sure, even with laser focus you can get an unwanted result. But you’ll be playing the real odds — not blind luck — when you block out the noise.

Playing to win starts the moment you stop playing to lose. Get the focus of a dog on a meat wagon, and you’ll be a lot less likely to bark up the wrong tree.

All the best,

John