Primal Blog 4

Primal Baseball Blog

Welcome to the Primal Blog. Our goal is to give you simple, actionable, and easy-to-digest information weekly. We will share our quotes of the week, journal prompts of the week, visualization prompts of the week, meals of the week, and much more. Thanks for following along. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @primalbsbl. Tune into our podcast "The Man in the Arena" on Apple Podcasts. 

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions feel free to email us, at primalbsbl@gmail.com

Book Quote of the Week

Book: Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Quote:

"Play stimulates the parts of the brain involved in both careful, logical reasoning and carefree, unbound exploration. Given that, it should hardly be surprising that key breakthroughs in thinking have taken place in times of play...Play doesn't just help us to explore what is essential. It is essential in and of itself. So how can we all introduce play into our workplaces and lives? In his book, Brown includes a primer to help readers reconnect with play. He suggests readers mine their past for play memories. What did you do as a child that excited you? How can you re-create that today?" ( 87)

Personal Analysis:

 Whether it's baseball or everyday life. We need to find time to play. Work is great, and to be in love with the process is an amazing thing. To reach our maximal potential, both work and play are required, they must become intertwined. Work and no play can cause a deterioration in performance. If you are feeling like you are being dragged to training every day, or forced to practice, chances are you will not last very long. If you are feeling burnt out, try and add simple things into practice or your training. Compete against yourself, and make the drills become games. Enjoy your practice, whether you are a kid or a professional. Play elicits the drive and passion for the game you love. When you feel like a kid, and you feel like you are playing instead of working, your productivity increases and your value explodes. The task at hand flies by as you give into the flow around you. Do what you did as a kid, instead of 75 drills and cues for your mechanics and pitching, go grab a ball and throw to a wall. Play with yourself and watch everything unfold for you.

Meal/Recipe of the Week

Maple Syrup Ice Cream

Ingredients:

 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Recipe:

In a large bowl whisk cream and milk together. Whisk in the egg yolks, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. If using an ice cream maker, chill for 1 hour before letting the machine churn the mixture. If you don't have an ice cream maker, put the mixture in a freezer container and freeze, mix every 30 minutes for 5-6 hours.

Serve and enjoy.

Who doesn't love maple syrup? Who doesn't like ice cream? This is a great way to have fun cooking with your family and enjoy the end product. Fueling well doesn't mean not having fun and enjoying the food. Ice cream can be a great source of protein and fuel. Whether you are trying to bulk or not you can use it as a tool in your fuel. Ice cream is great for everyone. Making your own can ensure there are no additives and extra sugar going into your body. I recommend Haagen-Daaz, as they use simple, clean ingredients and have no tricks up their sleeves.

Journal and Visualization Prompt of the Week

Journal Prompt:

What is your long-term goal in life? Family wise? What do you want to be remembered for? 

Now what are the short-term actions you will take to compound and get there?

Visualization Prompt:

Breathe in greatness. Breathe out greatness. Visualize greatness coming in and out of you as you inhale and exhale. The rest of this exercise is driven by you. Breathe in (insert blank), Breathe out (insert blank). Pick different things you want to be, or want to acquire. It could be things like strength, wisdom, good vibes, or anything, you decide.

Baseball Thought/Key of the Week

The Baseball is an Extension of You

When we throw a baseball, we need intent. We have to cultivate an idea of where we want the ball to go, and what we want the ball to do. If we cannot see where we want to go, how are we supposed to get there? When throwing, I sometimes think of the baseball as an extension of myself. As I throw the ball, my body is leading the way along with my intention. Throwing a ball with command takes effort, both mentally and physically, if you are not committed to going through that spot, you cannot get upset when things do not go according to plan. In life the same is true, the words you speak, the actions you take, and the intention you bring to what you are doing guide where you go. Everything you create, all the interactions you have, and every action you choose to make is an extension of you. An easier perspective to see this from is the ball going to your catch partner, you are creating something and putting it out into the world using your force and power. The same goes for actions, ideas, etc. If you want to have command of the ball, have intention. If you'd like command of your destination in life, have intention.

Song of the Week

red (feat Morgan Wallen) by HARDY