Belief at 60

This ties into mental toughness, again! Why is mental toughness so sought after? Because, at many moments through our lives, we doubt ourselves. Mental toughness is the holy grail. It allows you to do everything; be the best, earn the most, achieve, achieve, achieve!

Belief is a little gentler. I'm fonder of belief. It's a soft cotton versus the hair shirt of toughness. Toughness can get unruly. It can feed on itself and become selfish, excluding; some self aggrandizement can occur. Belief is less judgmental. Your colleagues, friends, kindergarten buddies may lack conviction on occasion, but you can encourage them to believe. To turn the brain into the Iron Dome when faced with adversity is a much more daunting task.

At a tennis tournament this last weekend, I observed a range of ages and talents and behaviors that would have a psychologist handing out cards left and right. There is nothing quite like a USTA tennis tournament to stir up excitement, envy, fear, desire, disappointment and elation. Though this may sound like your average soap, it is real. The tension in the air is palpable. To win, you must believe you can. There is no room for any doubt, any fear: any hesitation and the match is lost. But what if you are up against superior players? That's doubt seeping in. You are giving yourself an excuse to lose. Believe in you, your physical and mental skills. This match is about you, not them. Believe and no matter what the result, you have won.

Words are easy. Even so, you must remove the naysayers from your head. At sixty I feel it's a little easier. You aren't on anyone's radar for achieving very much at all. The pressure is off! Enjoy it. Play, live proudly. You may surprise yourself!

Belief is especially important when things aren't going so well. That's where your buddies come in. It's their job to buoy you up. If they say you're great at volleying, believe them. Tennis women don't give out compliments willy nilly. They know what a hard game this is and if they say your forehand is atomic, they mean it. And there may be a slight whiff of envy in the air. Celebrate!!!!