Live Sesson 2
IDENTITY, UNDERSTANDING WHO YOU ARE
Awareness and Perception | I am present
CONNECT WITH THE PLAYER INSIDE OF ME
"When I play tennis I put my mind to think"
3 IDEAS
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Who are you?
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Attention (over the net and on my side)
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Self-honesty
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Set standards for critique
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Flexibility to change
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Your role and your being
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Awareness.Problem-solving
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Different roles
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Who are you? (SWOT + VIA)
"You hit a backhand crosscourt that falls shorter than you had hoped for, and as a result, you see as your opponent winds up a motion you have seen them do several times before in this match: a drop shot.
Due to your slightly improved ability to read and react to their drop shots, you have now put yourself in a better position to reach the ball and continue the point. Thanks to your high level of concentration and observation, you have captured and memorized a scenario that had already presented itself before you, the fruits of this success coming into play now."
Awareness: here and now.
Perception: The knowledge or understanding that something exists, the ability to observe and create a mental image of what is happening.
In a game that is played at such high speeds, pushing you to react early and often even requiring you to read and anticipate a play before it even occurs, awareness and perception are indispensable for high performers at the game's apex.
The foundation of this skill is set through high levels of (1.1) attention (out-in) "directed cognitive process to stimuli." Young players who are present and aware of their surroundings can successfully perceive their opponent and the court to actively follow the ball. They gain these higher skills more quickly and efficiently through their elevated levels of attention. The timing of their split steps can inform one as a coach of how present they are and how quickly they perceive the game.
A few simple ways to improve these abilities are through short-court games, actively looking at the ball during the moment of contact, and consciously focusing on the split steps. Watching tennis at a higher level is another good way to learn to anticipate the most common responses and plays.
Also, to pay attention to oneself. Feelings, sensations, breath, heart rate, etc.
Similarly to how chess has been taken apart by specialists, expertly and eloquently elaborated upon, tennis to has been studied and explored by those who came before. Much of what happens on the court, many of the moves made to partake in the game at a higher level, has already been discovered and is therefore readily available for those who seek to evolve their game. It often comes down to how willing, and able a player can actively apply themselves to their process.
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Self-honesty
Uncovering our strengths and weaknesses is crucial; for us to do that, some external feedback is required, but self-honesty is essential. (Success strategy)
Moral and Competence Strengths.
Sometimes we have an idea of how we want to be inspired by somebody else, and our profile is entirely different. Imitations are never better than the original because authenticity gets lost.
The topic of awareness expands beyond the limits of being attentive while the point is being played. Part of becoming a good player is self-knowledge, the skill of observing yourself in the context of the game. Know thyself, as the old Greeks used to say. Discovering your strengths and weaknesses and working to expand your vision is fundamental to developing your Identity. Who you are as a person, especially under stress, will be reflected on court mainly but also in the way you handle difficult situations outside of the court. Therefore, we not only have to have our awareness turned outside, but we have to look within ourselves as well. For example, how do you relate to others? Are you good in groups or more of the lonesome warrior? Your feelings and sensations are a tremendous source of information.
I needed to learn something crucial about myself at some point in my career: all of us have our relationship with risk and certainty. Acknowledging that gives us a starting point to start working our way towards balance, which is always found towards the center and not in the extremes.
That makes risk tolerance a central piece if you want to express your authentic self. Finding the optimum balance for each of us is the wiser thing to do.
It is interesting to look back on our lives and see that we have had challenges that we have overcome. What were your personal qualities that helped you then?
As Ryan Holiday so eloquently expresses in "The Obstacle Is the Way," life is about the art of turning trials into triumphs. Tennis can be an honest reflection of one's true self. We can certainly take several things away from that idea, as we are constantly working on growing as players and athletes, besting all challenges that appear before us and hoping to emerge victorious at the end of our journeys.
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Your role and your being
Decide and learn your role well but don't over-identify with that role. You are more than your role.
Knowing who you are can give you the clarity to understand why you do what you do and decide who you want to be. That is finally a source of confidence. Once you choose and define your role, you can start working on the qualities needed to become that person, considering your strengths and weaknesses. Become a good actor!! Openness to learning is an essential quality. Scan yourself and see if you find any obstruction to your learning ability.
Having clarity between what you do well and what you don't is a source of confidence.
Some studies about success say that if we want to be the best version of ourselves, we must discover and apply our strengths in the most suitable area. Therefore, always continue learning and persevere.
We all have Invisible habits, Behaviors that are so engrained that we don't even notice them. As a result, we create what are called "blind spots" One of our jobs, something nobody can do for us, is to work on making the invisible visible—noticing our behaviors to make adjustments if needed.
Becoming more self or others aware is a conscious practice. Journaling can be a great way to deepen your reflections and improve your awareness.
However, understand that you are not your role! You play the role, but the role doesn't define you.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same,” Rudyard Kipling.
