Golfer Rory McIlroy explained it clearly when asked what his key thoughts were on his way to winning the British Open and the third major championship of his career. "I wasn't thinking about the end result. I worked on staying in the process on every shot," is what McIlroy said. "I wasn't thinking about what it would mean or how many further clear it would get me," he continued. That simple ability to stay in the moment is one of the key factors that allowed him to play his final round in a state of the greatest peace and control, and hence allow his deepest talent and desires to be realized.

A present state of mind is incredibly valuable to an athlete or to anyone who is trying to bring forth his or her best when it matters most. The reasons are profound. Presence of mind produces