It was 1991. Twelve shooters remained at the firing line, their scores too low to pass the Army National Guard weapons qualifications requirement. All twelve shooters were stressed to the max. If they failed the test, they lost their jobs. For them it had come down to this one moment – pass or fail.
The stress was palpable as the shooters stepped up to the firing line with their M-16 for their “last chance”. Fortunately for them, I was in charge of that firing line that day. I told the shooters to add just one simple action to their shooting process. I instructed them to simply cast their eyes several times from side to side and then up and down as far and as fast as they could move their eyes, then shut them very hard and open again three times and then make a big sigh – then shoot.
Each shooter had 60 seconds to fire 20 rounds from each of 5 positions – 100 shots in roughly 5 minutes. Each had to hit a tiny silhouette marked on a target 100 meters away. To pass, each had to hit the target at least 60 times (60%). Every shooter had previously missed that minimum requirement and this was their “last chance” to qualify.
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This time, as each shooter took their firing position, they added the eye movement and breathing technique to their process just before firing their weapon. And this time, each hit the target more than 80 times, the best shooter hitting the target 95 times – missing only 5 times when before he had missed at least 40 times. ALL shooters passed the test that day – and breathed a sigh of relief!
After that incident, I was called upon several more times to perform the same “miracle”. Most of those to whom I taught this simple technique remembered it and never again needed coaching.
Ever found yourself “up against the wall” and stressed to the max? Perhaps you have a final exam you must pass or a competition you fret over. Whatever the reason for the performance anxiety-laden stress, the simple technique of rapidly moving your eyes back and forth several times, moving them up and down several times, blinking as hard as you can three times and then breathing deeply in a deep sigh, can both instantly reduce stress levels and help you perform better in that moment.
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When it comes to performance, your stressed mind will produce fight or flight chemicals in your body – like cortisol. Unfortunately, cortisol and other stress chemicals tend to shut down the parts of the body necessary for peak performance – like cognitive thinking, intuition, and muscular coordination – in favor of brute force to either escape or fight a predator. When it comes to performance tests like shooting, a clear and well-functioning mind will win out over brute force every time.
The experience at the firing range taught me valuable lessons about stress and how a simple technique can make all the difference. Want to quickly double your reading speed and comprehension – almost instantly? Try this: just before you engage in reading, cast your eyes to their periferies as quickly as you can – laterally and vertically – several times – until it begins to feel uncomfortable. Then blink hard three to five times and sigh deeply afterward. Then read. You’ll be amazed at how much faster you can comprehend each page you read. And all you did was prepare your mind with a simple physical process – a little “rapid eye yoga”.