I learn countless metaphysical lessons from playing tennis.
Recently, my wife and I entered a regional tennis tournament for mixed doubles, and we got off to a bad start!
The first set of our beginning match was a disaster. One game after the other, our opponents took control of the court and put us on the defensive. We missed important shots. Our game was not up to what it should have been, and they stomped us 6 – 0. Whoa. Not fun!
Demoralized and discouraged, my wife and I cogitated about what to do while sitting on the bench between sets.
I felt lost, confused and struggled for insight.
The odd thing is, I began that match feeling good, ready to go, and confident that we would do well. It was exactly the opposite experience.
What went wrong? I agitated.
“I need to get into my tennis mind,” a little voice instructed inside.
Different states of mind bring different experiences, I remembered. To play smart tennis, one needs to be extra alert, attentive and aware of what is happening on court and with the tennis ball. Any mental distractions allows for mistakes, missed shots, and poor performance.
It’s plain and simple. To play good tennis, one has to be in a “tennis state of mind.”
I was not in a tennis state of mind.
I was in a “street state of mind.” And by “street state of mind,” I’m referring to common everyday thoughts that we entertain as we go about our typical business throughout the day.
To get off the depressing path we were headed down, I pushed all distraction out of my mind, including despair, and put laser-beam focus on playing that tennis ball the best I knew. I committed to getting into my “tennis state of mind.” Kathy did the same.
It worked!
We won the next set, and gained a match victory 13-11 in a third set tie-break.
The primary victory for me, though, was not winning the match. It was learning a valuable lesson that translated into a turn-around.
The same lesson applies to success in spiritual healing.
When faced with stiff challenges, it is not enough to enter prayer in a “street state of mind.” A “street state of mind,” supports a false sense of security in the mind of the person praying. It can make them feel like everything is okay, when everything is not okay. It feels normal and comfortable because it is their typical place to be in thought. But it is not sufficient to overcome pressing mortal challenges. More is needed. The Mind of Christ is needed.
The Mind of Christ is extra alert, attentive and focused on spiritual truth. It has the acumen and perspective needed to see through the lies of mortality and defeat them. It is not distracted, confused or uncertain. And it always wins.
So, if you’re feeling defeated, don’t! It’s that “street state of mind,” that is feeling down and out. You are capable of more. Go higher. Make the sacrifices necessary to get into the Mind of Christ, and there you’ll find the divine power necessary to overcome your challenge and gain a triumph.
Thank you so much, Evan, for this inspiring article. It helped a lot, since I am (was from this moment on) having some ‘concentration problems’. Couldn’t just sit and work without thinking of other issues. But now I see I was in the ‘street state of mind’.
Truly inspired. And I really enjoyed the picture. Thanks
Good Morning…thank you Evan….for distinguishing the difference…YOU UPLIFTED MY MORNING AND THAT’S WHERE I’LL STAY….GREAT HAPPY PICTURE TOO…TY.:-)
Your post, along with a recent “Daily Lift” by John Q. Adams that states that we can heal – without a doubt, is a powerful reminder of the amount of good that can be done when we get down to work. Mary Baker Eddy says on page 3 and 4 of Unity of Good”:
“If He is All, He can have no consciousness of anything unlike Himself; because, if He is omnipresent, there can be nothing outside of Himself.
Now this self-same God is our helper. He pities us. He has mercy upon us, and guides every event of our careers. He is near to them who adore Him. To under‐stand Him, without a single taint of our mortal, finite sense of sin, sickness, or death, is to approach Him and become like Him.”
Thanks so much.
Thanks, Evan,
I appreciate the caution about feeling satisfied with a comfortable “street” state of mind in prayer! Exactly what I need. The Mind of Christ is so much more. And we all want to win that game.
Thank you for this amazing message, Evan !
Today I´m giving my first LIVE interview to the TV and I´ll focus on getting into the “singer/songwriter” state of mind.
It´s all I needed to read today !
How true. If any successful endeavor is going to be accomplished, all mental thoughts not having any thing to do with the endeavor has to laid by the wayside. This attitude especially in the demonstration of C/S healing. Thanks again Evan for this well informed pick up.
Thank you Evan and Kathy! Really inspiring. Enjoyed the pic as well!
Metaphysical point well made!
Lovely picture of you and Kathy!
Yep! Whatever “error” pitches to us, we can return with force and focus:
proving (and practicing!) our DOMINION!!
The tennis analogy always hits me as very helpful indeed. Good one, Evan.
Thank you for showing us your sweet and sincere smiling faces, saying so much!
Love to you both,
Sue :<)))
A healing state of mind would include expectancy, confidence, patience, tenacity, etc. Great analogy, Evan, this is really helpful on so many levels! The parable of the tennis match! I love it!
Thanks Evan! “Make the sacrifices necessary to get into the Mind of Christ”. Wow. I need to think about that statement, it is very deep. Love the picture too!
Cute couple! Good Job!