While on court during a recent tennis tournament, it struck me somber that how well I played was totally my own demonstration. It didn’t make any difference how strong my opponent was, how weak or capable my doubles partner was, the time of day, or what other people thought. How well I played was the outcome of my own effort and demonstration of skill.
It sounds like an obvious point, but is it always practiced?
For instance, do you ever complain about others around you holding you back, giving you grief, making your life or job hard? Do you make excuses for your own poor performance by pinning blame on others?
If so, it’s time to stop. It’s not their fault! Success is between you and God. It doesn’t matter what the other person is doing. That’s their world of demonstration. You have your own demonstrations to make.
Even when a partner is involved, personal success comes down to what you are doing as an individual.
I find in doubles that if I internally grumble over a weak partner’s poor performance, I do poorly. But if I cease judging their performance, be grateful for every good shot they make, and take no critical note of their flubs, I do much better. In fact, when I solely focus on my own performance and put them into God’s hands, I do very well, and the team has a much greater chance of winning.
The same rule applies to marriage, close relationships at work, family relations, and more. We demonstrate our own success independent of what others are doing. We can always be a “good player.” God gives us the skill, capacity, ability, insight, wisdom, joy, love and inspiration to excel, and no other person can prevent that good from flowing directly to us and being fully expressed.
So, no more excuses. Your poor performance is not the other person’s fault! Get with the program. Get with God and excel. Today is your day…
This has a special meaning for me today, the reference to family. Every family member has his/her own demonstrations to make and I need not insert myself into them and become enmeshed into their issues. My job is to be the best family member I can be, and know that in reality, we are all one family in God, our Father-Mother.
When I played tennis in high school, my coach taught us that we need to “determine our opponent(s) weakness and then play to win.” Can you give me a couple of counterfacts to this belief? Thank you Ann
That’s really cool! I like it. As always, thanks Evam. for sharing.
Hi Ann,
It’s called looking for opportunities to make a point. I think motive is key. It’s expected in the game that every player is looking for opportunity to score a point. And each player knows he has to defend his court space from that attempt to keep the ball in play. So, if you’re motive in play is to play the best tennis possible, to express intelligence, wisdom and foresight, rather than exploit weaknesses, the effect is going to be good for both sides. One opponent’s strong play strengthens the other opponent’s game. And all grow together, expressing brotherly love and care throughout.
That’s my attitude anyway…
Or one could look at their opponent not as the player(s)across the net but as being anything that would try to deny the ability to express qualities such as wisdom and foresight. Fear, pain, weakness, feelings of intimidation or inadequacy, that opponent’s weakness is that it has no power from the omnipotent. That is the real opponent we should strive to “beat”.
Thank you Evan and Anonymous directly after, I really like that thought, thank you too, Ann.
This is quite wonderful, Evan. Thank you so much. It reminds a bit of the ideas expressed in a recent Sentinel article
(3/21), “Find your center.” God, Spirit is the equilibrium of our life. No opposing force can throw us off.
I am still pondering, praying about, and considering the very powerful truths from your video on April 8th. It was truly amazing. It continues to give me a very fresh view of prayer and healing. Nothing can keep our prayers from bearing fruit.
This blog is so enlightening. Your thoughts and the comments of others are truly inspiring. Thanks so much, Sandy
Evan, I love the way that you are living so intentionally-a truly loving motive based approach. And thank you for putting it into such clear English for us so that we can learn to live intentionally too!