Fear can be the silent opponent that costs us the match – both in tennis and in life.
I’ve experienced this more times than I’d like to remember. The subtle nature of fear can catch me off guard on the court just as easily as it does in my daily life.
My partner and I take a decent lead in the match, but then a few bad shots lead to lost games. Momentum shifts, and we fall behind. The energy on the court changes dramatically.
Fear sets in, and the energy shifts from winning to worrying – worrying about losing.
Playing to win is a powerful mindset, playing to avoid losing is not.
This often mirrors how people navigate life – playing not to lose.
When fear sets in, it’s as if we take our eyes off the big picture, narrow our perception, and start micromanaging every move to minimize risk.
We play the game differently to avoid mistakes. The energy shifts from an empowered perspective of success and abundance to a disempowered view of limiting failure.
Fear ruins our experience and possibilities.
Fear is all in the mind – just mental chatter.
On the tennis court, mental chatter can feel like having a distracting doubles partner who won’t stop talking or coaching during a match. It’s as if this person is constantly beside you while you’re trying to serve, saying things like, “You should have served to her backhand,” or “Great, you’ve double-faulted again!”
This issue of negative self-talk isn’t unique to tennis; it’s a common struggle for many and has been studied by experts.
Michael Singer, author of “The Untethered Soul,” describes mind chatter as an inner roommate who never stops talking. This inner critic constantly worries, questions your actions, argues with your decisions, judges your performance, and jumps from one critique to another, causing you to lose focus.
There’s an inner roommate in our head that constantly tells us how inadequate we are. This inner critic can be helpful in pushing us to do more, but when we listen to it constantly, it can decelerate our effectiveness and well-being. Eventually you will see that the real cause of problems is not life itself. It’s the commotion the mind makes about life that really causes problems.
Michael believes that once you learn mindfulness and slow down your thoughts, you’ll realize that most of your mind chatter is a waste of time and energy.
Just as too much outside noise can disrupt your concentration, internal mind chatter can be the biggest obstacle between you and your best performance on and off the court.
But each mindful breath we take can be an opportunity to reset and refocus.
Practicing mindfulness allows us to shift our mindset before worry takes hold and makes it easier to notice when fear controls our game. This awareness helps us redirect our energy toward an empowered perspective focused on our strengths and the joy of the game.
It’s important to pay attention to both surface feelings and deeper emotions. Your hidden thoughts and beliefs can affect how you play, even if you don’t notice them at first. By listening to your gut and inner wisdom, you can uncover these hidden beliefs. This helps you act thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
Mindfulness slows down thought and helps us face fear on and off the court.
Everyone feels scared sometimes, especially under pressure. The key is to recognize fear, understand its source, and still give your best effort – whether serving for a tennis match or navigating daily life.
Breathe, play your heart out, and have fun!