When Bianca Andreescu won against Williams in 2019, she ranked 152nd in the world.
Williams was one of the greatest tennis players of all time. But intense physical and mental preparation made Andreescu a better player on that day.
It was reported that on the day of her victory, Andreescu started her morning like any other – by meditating and visualising how she is going to beat her opponent.
Andreescu said:
“I really think that working your mind is important, because on that level anyone can play tennis. The thing that separates the best from the rest is just the mindset. I guess the visualisation really works.”
What Andreescu was referring to is the process of envisioning, the deliberate production of an emotionally powerful, multi-sensory imaginative experience of a desired future event.
Envisioning is a confidence building skill based on a simple but striking biological fact –
your imagination stimulates actual physical changes in your body at many levels; from entire systems, organs and neural pathways in the brain and spinal cord which control movement and behaviour.
Athletes, performers, surgeons and army, have all been applying this technique to reach their highest potential.
Envisioning becomes especially helpful when you are trying to transition to a new level of responsibilities.
When you have all the required know-how and abilities but lack that confidence and certainty, that you are actually going to succeed.
No matter how skilled and knowledgeable you are, like Andreescu said “anyone can play tennis at the top”,
this mode of thinking ensures that your hard earned skills don’t fall victim to fear, doubt and worry.
How does visualisation help with self-cofidence?
It helps you:
(1) See Yourself (literally) ‘Playing’ at a New Level and
(2) Take Away the Edge of Worry, Discomfort and Tension.
What to know about envisioning so you can start?
Essential characteristics of envisioning are:
1. CONTROL
2. DETAIL
3. INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE.
First. Control of your envisioned content is essential. The images you see should be limited to the scenes of progress and success. If a picture of mistake shows up, cut and repeat a scene with a positive outcome.
Second. Details of your envisioning practice is just as essential. The greater level of details you create, the greater the number of neural pathways you engage and the more you ‘convince’ your nervous system and strengthen the pathways that control successful execution.
Engage the maximum number of senses: see, hear, feel, taste…and engage genuine emotion.
The third, and the greatest advice is to use envisioning from an internal perspective, where you are looking out from within your body and seeing what you see when you are actually performing your skills.
To give you and idea…
Imagine yourself looking at the roller coaster from a parking lot. Now, imagine sitting in a carrier and taking a ride.
Which one is more intense, and real?
Andreescu knows.
That Saturday, Andreescu defeated Williams at home in the comfort of her armchair, before she stepped on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Source
The Confident Mind, dr. Nate Zinnser, 2022.
Image
Alamy: Bianca Andreescu and Serena Williams, 2019 US Open tennis tournament, New York City, New York State, USA.