The Inner Game of Tennis

This book came from a recommendation on X. Lately, I’ve been trying to play golf, and I thought I could apply some of the lessons from tennis to improve my approach to the game. While the book is centered around tennis, it's core ideas seem to transcend sports, touching on performance, mindset, and self-awareness.

In this book is approaches the concept of self 1 and self 2. Self 1 represents the conscious, controlling mind, while Self 2 is the part of us that performs effortlessly when allowed to. Progress happens when Self 1 stops interfering and lets Self 2 do what it already knows how to do.

Basically it just says, do not judge yourself on doing things wrong. Allow yourself to make mistakes as trial and error builds a deeper more intiuive learning.

Excerpts

• Learning to let go of the habit of judging yourself.
• Self 2 will never be allowed to express spontaneity and excellence when Self 1 is playing some heavy ulterior game involving its self-image.
• No teacher is greater than one’s own experience.
• Only when Self 1 stops sitting in judgment over Self 2 and its actions can he become aware of who and what Self 2 is and appreciate the processes by which it works.