When it came to performance, Michael Jordan, the famous basketball player, was a believer in “Whatever it takes!” In the documentary “The Last Dance,” based on Jordan’s life, we get to see how he was driven by an arsenal of motivation.

Jordan had great physical skills, but that seems nothing compared to his mental skills. Motivation was a key ingredient for his peak performance, but what about the times when was not feeling motivated? He made it up! Jordan became famous for making up stories in his mind about how an opponent was challenging him even if in reality they were simply smiling at him.

What is Real?

When it came to making stories, Jordan’s vivid visualizations made it hard for himself to tell if someone really challenged him or it was just his imagination. It was only after winning when he would tell in interviews how he was motivated because someone had challenged him (but they had not in reality), that people realized his secret. Jordan was doing “whatever it takes” to be the best. But hey, if it got him the results, it served the purpose 😉

Our mind is powerful. Our thoughts decide how we see reality. There is no denying that life is tough, but often we make things tougher than they really are due to negative self-talk. As the Stoic philosopher, Seneca once said: “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”

You must be familiar with phrases like “Rise & Shine,” or “Whatever it takes.” You probably have a few of your own as well. Do they work? Yes, but only if you want them to work. Whenever you use a motivating token, but then give up on the challenge, you slowly kill your belief in it. So next time you tell yourself a motivating phrase, you better live up to it.

Kosmik Keys

Earlier, we saw how performance statements can do wonders when coupled with visualization. But let’s admit it, performance statements can be tough to practice, partly because you need a unique one for each situation. On the other hand, a single motivating phrase like “In it to win it!” can apply to multiple situations, but lacks the precise guidance of a performance statement. How about putting performance statements and motivating phrases under the same roof? In the realm of Kosma, we call them “Kosmik Keys.”

So, take this as a call to write down your Kosmik Keys somewhere you get to see them frequently. The more you see them, the more they become your way of life. And apart from focusing on the positives (to do) instead of the negatives (not to do), there are no limits. All that matters is that you should believe in the Kosmik Keys you choose. Here are some of our favorites to get you started:

Bruce Lee: “Be like water.”

Marcus Aurelius: “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

Mother Teresa: “Peace begins with a smile”

DJ Khaled: “We the best” 😉

Few more:

“Rise & Shine”

“In it to win it”

“Whatever it takes”

“To the stars” (Latin: “Ad astra”)

“Fortune favors the bold” (Latin: “audentes Fortuna iuvat”)

That’s all fam. Lezzz go!