Navigating Nerves and Anxiety: Embracing Acceptance in Tennis

Key Points

• It’s important to separate nerves from anxiety - nerves are good, anxiety is bad
• Nerves are just the body preparing itself for a challenge and is completely normal
• Anxiety is the body’s wish to avoid an unwanted future
• When feeling anxiety, remind yourself that you can tolerate an unwanted outcome, and you can tolerate unwanted feelings
• The more you are able to accept unwanted outcomes and feelings, the better you are able to stay present and compete
• “It’s ok to lose; it’s ok to miss; there are no guarantees that I will win or play well, but I will play freely”
• Use high acceptance statements that you will “play freely without guarantees”, “stay present” and “give your best effort”
• Avoiding an unwanted outcome will lead to tight muscles, poor coordination and bad decision making