A confident player, it seems, is someone who talks trash and ‘feels’ unbeatable. A common phrase and my ‘favourite’….NOT, used amongst many sports psychologists is ‘fake it until you make it’!
But what is ‘real’ confidence? Is it a belief that ‘I am the best’ or ‘I know I can do it’? Or is it something else?
The problem is that if confidence is the belief I am the best or I can do, how long can you fool yourself when you become aware that those statements are obviously untrue?
It seems to me; a really confident player is someone who faces adversity without getting discouraged or giving up in any subtle or overt manner.
On the tennis court, players’ moods all too often seem to be based on their perception of how well they are playing. So, if they are winning or playing well, they are ‘confident’, if they are losing or playing poorly, they are angry, frustrated and ready to throw in the towel.
For me, a confident player is someone who misses a shot and turns around and is ready to play the next point without much inner movement. It is not something you can fake.
Of course, you can ‘force’ yourself to not shout or scream or show any outward emotion, but that will not change your inner experience. If your inner experience does not change, no growth happens in you.
What is your reaction to an error or a ‘bad’ day?
Just watch that inner experience without judging it or trying to suppress or escape from it in anyway.
To fully live the experience will take you on your journey towards freedom!
See what happens!