Achieving Self Mastery with the "Inner Game of Tennis"

Hello, fellow apprentices! One of the most amazing books I've read about personal development and high performance was Tim Galloway's Inner Game of Tennis. This book is a true classic considering it was released decades ago and is still used today by a wide variety of athletes and coaches looking to reach the next level.

We know that the term “Coach” is even misused by some today. This reading laid the foundations for serious work and the real meaning of the word “coach” in personal and sporting use so that the individual can achieve self-mastery through practice and continuous reflection.

The most important thing here is to consider all the tennis talk in a more generalized way. If you replace the sport mentioned in the book with other aspects that you want to improve in your life (public speaking, improving your form, making more money, etc.) you will probably find that the concepts are applied in the same way.

Well, let's go ahead and talk a little about the ideas of this magnificent work?

The Inside and Outside of Everything

Tim Galloway says that “Every game is made up of two parts: the inner and the outer”. We already know the outside: we have tangible obstacles, material opponents and physical and personal limitations. The inner part is the most important and least developed. It's what makes the real difference for you to be a person out of the curve in anything.

According to Tim, the outer part can be easily taught through books, content and practical lessons. Physical limitations can also be overcome with relative ease through constant training. The big problem for anyone to become a really top performer is the inner part, or their MIND.

If you ask a triathlon competitor what the hardest part of a competition is, he'll tell you: the mental. Dealing with self-sabotage is 90% of a person's job, as many achieve physical mastery, but not necessarily mental mastery.

So, how to master it?

Being 1 and Being 2

The author argues that we have two beings within us: Being 1, which is the rational and objective being, and Being 2, which is the unconscious and subjective Being.

Generally, in a predominantly rational society, we attach great importance to Being 1 and all its processes. Before starting anything, we think too much, analyze too much, and end up being paralyzed. In sports it's the same thing: when you try to rationalize your movements too much, hit the ball correctly, or your self-criticism, you fall into a destructive spiral of tension.

Being 2, on the other hand, is our “magic” part that connects with processes and circumstances in a way that is still poorly understood. Our subconscious has an incredible ability to execute and adapt quickly, but unfortunately it is hampered by the constant voice of Being 1, the rational, which tries in a limited way to give instructions of what is correct and what is not.

Before you think this is mystical talk, there are many scientists today showing that this is a reality through studies of artists, athletes, and other high-performing characters in what they call the Flow State. We ourselves express this metaphorically when we say that “so-and-so is inspired” or “it seems that everything works out for the guy”.

The big point here, according to Tim, is to end the internal conflict between Being 1 and Being 2 and allow each to work within their faculties without interfering with the other.

The traditional method

For you to understand better, the traditional method, which is what we usually do incorrectly, is as follows:

Step 1 – Criticize or judge the old custom

Step 2 – Tell yourself you need to change. Repeat this over and over in your mind.

Step 3 – Make as much effort as possible to make it happen correctly.

Step 4 – Go back to step 1, criticizing mistakes and failures again.

The Inner Game Method

The method taught by Tim, on the other hand, preaches that we should be somewhat different in our approach. Notice the parallel here with Zen thinking and meditation by becoming the observer:

Step 1 – Observe your own current behavior without judgment

Step 2 – Visualize the desired perfect state

Step 3 – Let it happen. Practice deliberately.

Step 4 – Go back to step 1 and observe the results, without criticism and judgment

The Secret of High Performance

Our objective mind is excellent for many rational processes and extremely necessary for observing and visualizing things. The other mind, the subjective, is perfect for executing and letting go, as the subconscious is extremely fast and adaptive.

The biggest problem is that, unfortunately, we have entered a destructive process of self-sabotage, judgments and paralysis, dominated by a very big and wrong objectivity. Our past beliefs play a very strong role in this.

Making the subjective and objective minds be at peace and work together is what Tim Galloway preaches in his book. This is the great secret of high performers, whether in sports, finance or the arts.

I hope you enjoyed these thoughts, apprentices!

Up to the next level!