How's your focus?

A young tennis player had been sent to me who needed help with some physical overuse problems he’d been experiencing, as well as some mind issues. His coach had informed me that he was a “gun” and during practice he was a world-beater, but in “clutch” situations during matches he could quickly become a “pop gun” and implode.

I began by explaining that the tennis world is a very, very competitive world, with which he agreed wholeheartedly. In a competitive world most of us would like to win, correct? He replied yes! Further, it’s a given that there will be a winner and a loser in the competitive world, correct? He said yes! Well, if it’s going to happen anyway then why would you waste your energy on what is assured i.e. you will either win or lose?

His jaw hit the floor. He said that he hadn’t thought of it like that before, as he struggled to internalise it.

I went on to explain that his energy should be directed at focusing on what’s important, not on something that will happen automatically anyway.

He was astounded at how easy it was. He had been wasting his focus on the result which was inevitable, rather than on what he does i.e. hitting the ball.

You know, we all do this in some form or intensity. The ones who focus on their skills win, the ones who don’t lose. So what are you doing? Are you wasting your energy too?

.....Al