I knew there was another factor out on the tennis court with me when I played a match. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was huge because it would play a major role in whether I won or lost.
The first ten minutes of every match was the warm-up or rather size-up period. I’d determine in those ten minutes whether I was better than my opponent. The crazy thing is when I was better than her, she would beat me and visa versa. There was no rhyme or reason to it.
I was playing on the girls high school tennis team at that time, back in the day. It just so happened a book was published around that time called The Inner Game of Tennis. I read that book of course. What I learned was the unknown factor on the court was within me. It was my mindset. What I was thinking; my opinion; my mental attitude or inclination. It was as easy as thinking I would win and then doing it or thinking I would lose and doing that. Or was it so easy?
Not so easy really, but very powerful when used. I started changing my approach to my matches after reading the book. What I really changed was my mindset. I determined to make up my mind about winning even before I stepped on the court.
Guess what, it worked (most of the time). I could actually will myself sorta speak to win. With my attitude I was able to beat opponents whose skill set was better than mine. Go figure!
I’m not a teenager any more, but I remember that lesson and I hold onto it. I’ve faced many situations in my life where my skill set was not strong enough to get through the situation. That’s when I remembered to exercise my mindset muscle and determine that I’m going to get through that situation no matter what.
Often I need to make that determination – winning mindset – before I get in the situation. I still need to work hard at being prepared for whatever the situation is. Mindset does not negate hard work, it enhances it. They go hand-in-hand.
Hard work and mindset are a winning combination.
What have you learned about mindset?
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