The Only Constant in Life Is Change
Uncertainty …
For some reason, human beings are not wired to deal with uncertainty very well. We want to know.
We need to know. In a tennis match, there are few certainties. That’s what fascinates me so much in the game of tennis. Momentum can change at any time. One minute. you are coasting, the next minute, you are in a dogfight. Every action by a player results in a reaction by the other player. At a very early age, you can already tell which children understand this. I used to think that some children just had a “knack” for this and others not so much, but now, I know better.
By approaching everything in life from a growth mindset, children will be fascinated with challenges and constantly stimulate their creativity to find solutions. And because challenges and difficulties are seen as opportunities, these children will also be more persistent. The only failing would be to stop trying.
This process will start at home, and a tennis professional will need to be on the same page with parents:
â–ºBe careful with positive praise about ability, intelligence or talent
Praise effort and persistence instead
►​Be careful with labels or comparisons
Allow each person to build and grow without limitations
►​Don’t have all the answers
Figuring it out is half the fun!
