The Mental/Emotional Game
The mental game is composed of not just a calculating mental machine that either works of not but an emotional component wherein lies in most players a struggle between composure and panic. This other element which is often overlooked is more than an equal participant in the Game. Hence the title of this article is the M/E GAME.
At the height of ability of mind, heart and body is the proverbial “Zone.” At the bottom there is the powerlessness of despair where nothing is possible except defeat.
The ravages of the descending emotional scale are clearly marked with increasing amounts of negativity and frustration as the player descends into an overwhelmed state of discouragement to anger, rage, fear and depression. The ascending emotional scale brings added acceptance, hope, optimism, confidence, passion, enjoyment and empowerment which leads to victory.
The player's ego is either blocking the flow of well being or channeling it into better expression. As long as a player's body is healthy and the skills have been developed to a successful level the next stage of development is the Mental / Emotional game or the M/E GAME.
The ME Game is about breaking through habitual thought patterns that block the player's natural effort from being fully exhibited in competition. It is too often the case where, fear, anger and doubt are the fundamental components of losing. It is a given that in any competition between two players there will be a winner and a loser yet the element of losing composure is a deeper defeat than coming up short in a well played match.
In the M/E Game the first objective is to know where you are as a player on the court.