Some say tennis has become like physical chess. Well actually it has. And if you’ve played chess, you’d understand that doesn’t happen intellectually either. Processing the billions of possibilities in the 64 squares is done by opening your mind and allowing the subconscious to reveal the best move in real time.

The intellect is here to reverse engineer an outcome. It operates sequentially, like reading these words. And that’s simply too slow for what performance requires. Too slow to create in real time, to respond, to adapt.

Even more so in a physical sport, performance forces you to rely on your subconscious. The complexity of a serve or forehand requires mountains of muscle memory. If the problem is that you don’t display what you know you have, wouldn’t the solution be to be more connected to where your game is flowing from? To be the bridge between subconscious and conscious?

In truth, “thinking” is not only not the solution, but actually has become what is interfering with an athlete’s innate ability to play. Our thoughts of what was, or what will be, what I did, or what I will do, need to do, or should do, presently occupy the mind and cloud our reception and response to the real time unfolding of this unique point.

Thinking has become a way of “making sure”. A way of forcing it. It’s a result of being attached to the result, being under the illusion it’s your responsibility to produce an outcome when in reality it’s your privilege to play.

“Thinking” that seeks to produce an outcome is fear-based, comes from a place of lack or inadequacy, can only re-create the known, and directs energy away from the present moment. Keeping you off the peak, in your comfort zone, hoping, wishing, waiting, trying.

“Thinking” that arises naturally through the intention to play is unlimited. It flows from the subconscious, in real time, allows the full force of your present self to meet the newness of this moment.

In short, when it comes to performance, the thinking mind is great in the passenger seat, but a bad driver. It simply cannot flow with the traffic, so you never hit the super highway of true high-performance.

Most would agree that a person, or an athlete is at their best when doing 1 thing. Like texting and driving, the quality of what we do greatly diminishes when we try and multi-task.

Have you ever stopped to consider that “thinking” is an activity?

It’s mental activity. It’s an action. It’s something you DO. Your mind is occupied. And what’s truly interesting is it’s NOT actually occupied by what you’re doing. It has nothing to do with the playing of tennis. Watch your thoughts and you’ll see your mind is occupied by what was or what will be. You’re participating in 2 things, thinking and playing.

Again, the moment changes too fast to “think about it”. You’re a step behind, or a step ahead, permanently disconnected with the present as long as you’re intellectualizing your experience.

Thinking about riding a bike is very different than riding a bike. Planning a vacation is very different than being on vacation. Looking at the menu is very different than eating the food.

Now, I want to be very clear here. Thinking is NOT bad. That’s another idea. Just another thought. Thinking, that is disconnected from the reality of the present moment, is just that, disconnected from the reality of the present moment. The result is lack of clarity, confusion, anxiety, and an inability to express ourselves fully and authentically.

Take this a step deeper and understand that your body actually responds to every single thought you generate. Generate a fearful thought, and the body reacts, muscles constrict, fight or flight response engages, attention narrows, creativity ceases, analyzation ensues, our brain shifts from possibility detection to threat detection. We feel even more cut off, irritated, angry, frustrated, etc. The loop continues.

You see, when the mind is participating in a psychological process (past/future), it’s disconnected from the body. That’s stress. Stress has consequences. And under-performance is definitely only one of them.

When the mind becomes quiet, it returns to its natural state which is in connection with the body. When we can hold that connection, when we can remain present, we dissolve stress, and the symptoms of stress which we commonly refer to as “negative” emotions and tension in the body.

When we understand that playing tennis is NOT a thought process, it’s a life process, we can realize that the key to performance is already in our possession. There’s little to think about. Your subconscious, your muscle memory, IS your BODY. It remembers how to hit the ball. Being present with life, with the present action you’re taking, is the only way to reengage our full capability and express our highest potential. It’s DONE in and through the moment.

This is why true Play is incorruptible. It can ONLY be done for its own sake. Any attachment to the outcome, simply compromises your inherent ability to create in real time. One of my favorite quotes: “Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced.”

The alternative to the mind, is the Heart. The aspect of each of us that’s here for it all, knows its own freedom, is untamed, takes no instruction, has no agenda, craves adventure, is bold, daring, intelligent, resilient, uncompromising, companionate, and creative.

When the mind follows the heart, when the effort is surrendered to the moment, when the attention is directed through the body, our peak play simply flows from the inside out. Your best is already present. Because your best is always present. The question is, are you?

Don’t think. Play on 🚀