Training the "Wise Mind" to Defeat the "Monkey Mind" using on Court Drills

Key Points

• The Monkey Mind’s goals are to pursue pleasure and avoid pain
• The Wise mind’s goals are to be in the present moment and do something that is challenging and meaningful
• Monkey Mind automatic thoughts and feelings will come into your mind while playing tennis
• A well trained Wise Mind can help you respond well to those powerful automatic thoughts and feelings and allow you to free up and maintain focus
• Serving Drill: 1 point for making the serve and -1 point for missing
• After you hit the serve, notice if you’re red, yellow or green while you walk around the basket
• Once you’ve walked around the basket and you’re ready to serve, have your wise mind choose 1 goal that it can pursue for the serve
• Noticing feelings without automatically responding, allows negative red feelings to flow through you more quickly
• Feel the monkey mind feelings, be aware of them, accept them and then give wise mind responses