Mastering the Mind Mindfulness at 125 MPH ... Part Five By Rob Polishook n our previous articles in the Mastering the Mind Series: Stillness at 125 MPH, we talked about the benefits of meditation, who does it, and why it’s important. We also outlined a concrete meditation practice that’s easy to start and will have a positive impact on and off the court. And then last month, we spoke about three key principles that can help players adapt to high-pressure situations: impermanence, equanimity and gratitude. This issue, we are going to work on the three key principles that can help you keep focus during in competition and ultimately be your best. If you study all the top players, they have relied on these principles throughout their careers, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff, etc. The list goes on. Amongst many things, the main thing these principles do is to help you concentrate on what you can control, and let go of what you can't.
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Intention Intention has a tremendous amount to do with playing tennis and winning a match. At times, intention can come across as a “wishy-washy” concept, and it’s true that a goal with no clear plan has no teeth or power. For instance, “to win” is too open-ended a goal. While intention isn’t black and white, it
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Long Island Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • LITennisMag.com
is specific, and it allows for you to adjust and improve your skills based on the present moment. For example, if your intention is to play more aggressively, then you have a clear goal. You may find yourself playing more aggressively 40 percent of the time. Pat yourself on the back and reset your intention of increasing those opportunities the next time you play. Intention rewards you for you for what you did and encourages you to do more. It should have to do with something you can control, not the outcome. An intention is about focusing on what you can control and aligning your energy to be your best at that one aspect. Next time you play, take a moment to set aside time and journal your intentions. Afterwards, evaluate how you did. Then reset the intention. Awareness A former coach of Federer's once said that his strength lies in knowing what he needed because he “knows where he is”. That is awareness, and it allows you to move beyond frustration and accept where you are, so that you can think clearly about what you need to do next.
