Do you get on an emotional roller-coaster that is the mind when you play tennis and compete? It would seem that we are ALL on this roller coaster; it is a shared human experience. Some of us are very vocal during our experience and others may keep it under tabs, but if we are alert to our inner happenings we will see that this roller coaster is taking us all for a ride!
How can we get off this roller coaster and just PLAY involves a long, but fun journey of self discovery and here is one way to begin this journey.
Consider this: do we really have control over the way we play? It would seem we do, but if we do, who would ever choose to do a double-fault or dump a simple volley into the net? Surely no one would chooses these things and yet they happen. So, what does that reveal?
When we wind up to hit a serve, can we be sure if it is going to be in or out? When we swing at a groundstroke can we guarantee a winner? Is it not as likely to be an error?
If you get upset, regardless to what degree, it means that deep down you believe that you have control; therefore you ‘should’ not miss such a shot.
Truth is we cannot be sure. It sounds counter-intuitive. We would like to think that we do have control over the way we play, but please think deeply about this. Do we have complete control over the result or outcome of a ball we hit?
If you can see that we do not, then you can relax and stop taking credit or blame for the way you play and instead, simply acknowledge that it is a ‘happening’ over which you have no control.
This simple recognition can completely transform your experience of playing and competing.
Change your dialogue! If someone says ‘you really played well today’, if you see what I am saying, you could simply respond by saying, in a detached way, yes it was happening today!
Similarly, you can also have days when it is NOT happening. Either way, you don’t take the blame or the credit. In both scenarios, you are trying to do the best you can and whether a poor shot results from a lack of skill or fear does not matter, it simply happened; it’s beyond your control.
This could be the first step towards playing freely, without fear and really enjoying your tennis without the burden and pressure that ego-identification brings.
What other areas of your Life does this apply to?
Play, explore and experiment and see what happens……