The rate of learning must exceed the rate of forgetting! One
important principle that you may have forgotten is to not let
your negative situations distract you from your long term
goals. In other words, stay out of your own way! This
principle is a key factor in keeping your momentum going and
has a wide range of application. Below are three quick
applications.
Problem:
You are having a bad day on the tennis court. When you finish
playing you are feeling down and despondent. You played so well
before and now look at you. Tennis is no longer fun. You may
even be thinking about quitting! If you do not quit, then you
think it's time for a tennis make-over. EVERYTHING must be
wrong with your game.
Solution:
Stay out of your own way! Forget all of that negative stuff.
Put your emotions and your ego aside and keep moving! All that
you have experienced is a normal part of learning and being a
competitor in the sports arena. Don't change anything, wait it
out, relax and think positively like a true Tennis Warrior and
your game will come back.
Problem:
In a match you play a good but long point, only to lose the
point. You think, "Wow! What a tough point to lose. I guess I'd
better change something, this player is just too good!"
Solution:
Stay out of your own way! You're over-thinking. You are more
hung up on the fact that you lost the point than the fact that
you made your opponent work for the win. You played it right...
now do it again and again and again! Typically when players lose
a long, long point they will lose the next point quickly! Why?
Because they think their last mistake is more important than the
next shot!!! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. Stay positive and keep
concentrating!
Problem:
You took a week or two of vacation and when you come back your
play is horrible. You feel out of place on the court. You
complain, "After all the work I put in on my game and now in
one week, it's all gone! I'll never take another vacation...it's
just not fair."
Solution:
Stay out of your own way! Stop all of this confusing, negative,
emotional thinking. You are just having a little timing and
rhythm problem from the layoff. Relax and keep swinging and in
a day or two all will be well. Again - not a big deal. Stop
making it one!
All of these examples have simple solutions, but when you and
your emotions get in the way of relaxed, focused play, these
simple solutions become mind-boggling! It's up to YOU to apply
simple solutions and keep your momentum going. Stay positive,
stay focused, and stay out of your own way!
