Sublime

“Trust thyself.

It is worth noting at this point that playing to the best of your ability in a tennis match and winning that match are causally connected. In particular, what better way is there to win a tennis match than by playing to the best of your ability? The Stoics realized that our internal goals will affect our external performance, but they also realized

But then it hit me. Dad was right; the surfer does want to ride the wave to the beach, yet he waits in the ocean for the biggest wave to come along that he thinks he can handle. If he just wanted to be “in the flow,” he could do that on a medium-size wave. Why does the surfer wait for the big wave? The answer was simple, and it unraveled the

By “the right way,” I meant that I wanted her to work on her confidence as she worked on her physical skills. I told her I would love to see her confidence get way ahead of her actual physical skill. I wanted her to spend time every day visualizing herself hitting great bunker shots. When she practiced or played, I wanted her to enjoy her good

the actions of others, as well as by performing actions itself.

Just before the tournament starts, during a final practice with Brad, I give a halfhearted effort. Perry drives me back to the hotel. I stare out the window, silent. Pull over, I say. Why? Just pull over. He steers onto the shoulder. Drive two miles ahead and wait for me. What are you talking about? Are you crazy? I’m not done. I didn’t give my

It is when competition is thus used as a means of creating a self-image relative to others that the worst in a person tends to come out; then the ordinary fears and frustrations become greatly exaggerated. If I am secretly afraid that playing badly or losing the match may be taken to mean that I am less of a man, naturally I am going to be more

In true competition no person is defeated.

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in the world. Yet he has a teacher; he works with Butch Harmon. And Tiger doesn't endure this instruction or suffer through it — he revels in it. It's his keenest professional joy to get out there on the practice tee with Butch, to learn more about the game he loves. Tiger Woods is the consummate professional. It