We get what we deserve!
Oct 02, 2022Often we think that because we did what we call "hard work" and on top of that, we want it badly, we deserve to accomplish a certain big result. In reality "we don't get what we want but we get what we deserve". Deserving, meaning the amount of potential we are prepared to express at a given moment. If your game doesn't have the strength and fundaments to allow you to achieve big things, it doesn't matter how badly you want it, you will not get it. Even as grown ups we tend to think like little kids and throw tantrums if we don't get what we want.
We hear that it's all in our minds and this is true to a certain extent. To achieve big things in tennis we need strokes and tactics that can create discomfort on the opponent's side, we need a good physical structure in optimal shape, and of course we need a great competitive mindset.
As Buddha tells us on the Dhammapada:
"Little by little a person becomes evil, as a water pot is filled by drops of water, Little by little a person becomes good, as a water pot is filled by drops of water"
The same happens to our mindset and the little things we repeat on a daily basis. It is of most importance to be mindful of, how we think, how we feel, the focus intent we are able to sustain consistently, moment by moment, day in and day out during practices. How centered you can stay while practicing difficult things without giving up to emotions of anger or frustration, how you handle the pressure of not being able to do things the way you want.
I believe that path to feeling accomplished is to put all your attention on what you do moment by moment, learn to let go of expectations and accept what is. Fulfillment as the player you want to be, is found inside of the self and is not found by constantly looking to what you still haven achieved in the outer world.
Don't miss a beat!
Ideas and motivation delivered to your inbox.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
