Hi Ben! Great content as always. I have many questions, but let's focus on routines. I loved the lemon juice analogy, but it gave me a pause.
You say that in order to reach a good state of mind I need to remember what it feels like to be in one. For me it could be e.g. confidence, creativity, grit. I can remember moments in my games when I displayed those and try to evoke that feeling.
But that appears very different from what we usually talk about as pre-game routines though? Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think that tennis players rehearse their best shots while bouncing the ball before serving, it seems like they just try to reset to some default. Similar with players adjusting their pieces or meditating before the game.
Perhaps the point is that professionals already have an excellent base mindset that they only have to return to? Whereas I as a normal person already struggle a lot and a very good mental state is something extraordinary?
Hello Jan and thanks for the kind words and the astute question :)
I would separate two things: playing and what happens just before play. When you play you have to be one with the playing, you never want to be a witness thinking thoughts. This is what in zen and martial arts is called mu-shin or literally no-mind. No mind is not mindless but it's just doing the thing. Before play a lot of the pre-game routines are aimed at bringing your nervous system in a state that is appropriate, not too stressed and not too spaced out.
For the tennis player, the serve routine helps them ground in their bodily sensations, which is a great way to get into mushin (as a cue to be here).
Hi Ben! Great content as always. I have many questions, but let's focus on routines. I loved the lemon juice analogy, but it gave me a pause.
You say that in order to reach a good state of mind I need to remember what it feels like to be in one. For me it could be e.g. confidence, creativity, grit. I can remember moments in my games when I displayed those and try to evoke that feeling.
But that appears very different from what we usually talk about as pre-game routines though? Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think that tennis players rehearse their best shots while bouncing the ball before serving, it seems like they just try to reset to some default. Similar with players adjusting their pieces or meditating before the game.
Perhaps the point is that professionals already have an excellent base mindset that they only have to return to? Whereas I as a normal person already struggle a lot and a very good mental state is something extraordinary?
Hello Jan and thanks for the kind words and the astute question :)
I would separate two things: playing and what happens just before play. When you play you have to be one with the playing, you never want to be a witness thinking thoughts. This is what in zen and martial arts is called mu-shin or literally no-mind. No mind is not mindless but it's just doing the thing. Before play a lot of the pre-game routines are aimed at bringing your nervous system in a state that is appropriate, not too stressed and not too spaced out.
For the tennis player, the serve routine helps them ground in their bodily sensations, which is a great way to get into mushin (as a cue to be here).
Does this make better sense?
Sure! I'm trying to help you clarify your ideas as I'm waiting for your chess psychology book :)
I enjoyed the conversation. I'd love to know more about what a basic pre-game routine should accomplish. Any ideas?