GOAT Mind
While bombs dropped from the sky in Serbia during the nineties, Novak Djokovic dreamed of winning Wimbledon one day. So it's no wonder he said his most significant accomplishment in life is having an open mind. Not all the Grand Slams, incredible comebacks, or any other tennis moments we revere him for. And it makes sense. You need an open mind to reach impossible dreams because anything is possible when you admit you're sure of nothing.
If you are a tennis player or a dreamer, you can steal these seven ways Novak goes about his life and develop your championship mindset.
Stay connected to the purpose - As a young child in Serbia, Novak Djokovic was an excellent skier and tennis player. Eventually, his father said he was ready to support Novak in whatever he wished to do, but he would have to pick a focus. It only took Novak 30 minutes to tell his dad that tennis would be the future. Because he loved tennis, it was that simple. Think back to when you were a child. What did you love? We all had passions, dreams, and hobbies we explored with no ulterior motives other than the joy of doing what we loved. As we age, the stakes increase, and we often begin doing the things we love for the wrong reasons. Money, power, influence, and all the treats that come with fame can turn a dream into a nightmare if it takes away the love of the journey. Novak has kept his inner child alive even as he has grown into the greatest of all time, and that connection to his purpose allowed him to stay focused along the way.
Become a great card player instead of a disgruntled guy with a pair of twos - Novak grew up in a country at war, with few resources and every reason to resent the world. However, instead of growing up hating his country's enemies, Novak realized at an early age that you cannot fault an entire society for the actions of a select few. This realization is rather insightful for a person of any age to make, but it gives us a sneak peek into why Novak is so adaptable on the court. Tennis has infinite variables, yet the players who succeed don't complain about the cards dealt during a match. Instead, they become great card players who can win in a million ways. Even when the crowd cheers for the opposing player, Novak Djokovic pretends they are cheering his name. His ability to shift perception is similar to how Novak can turn an opponent's most significant weapon into a nonevent. Seeing the world in a favorable light is a skill that Novak has mastered, like a forehand or a serve.
If you smash a racket, buy a new one, and move on - It's safe to say Novak isn't Ghandi on the court. He's broken rackets, had temper tantrums, and even took out a line judge with a shot to the throat during the US Open, forcing him to retire from the tournament. Yet the backbone of his game is mindfulness, and his biggest weapon is the ability to stay fully present during the most significant moments. But even people who practice mindfulness can constantly improve. It's not like you learn to breathe and never have a moment of rage again. Mindfulness is a process that has ups and downs like everything else, and Novak admits that there is a time for everything, including throwing the occasional tantrum on the court. Of course, he is not proud of these moments, but the journey toward anything significant will have drawbacks. The sooner you surrender the idea of perfection, the quicker you'll get to where you want to go.
Meet your new best friend, your ego - Many successful people will tell you that ego is the enemy, but Novak has a different approach to ego. He chose to befriend his ego and use the advantages it comes with. Everyone who succeeds in something has an ego, or they wouldn't have the motivation or desire to go for something big in the first place. The ego can be a good thing for someone who stays humble, grateful, and filled with love. It only becomes a negative if you buy into your ego and let it trick you into thinking you are better than everyone else. That is when the ego is the enemy, like a friend who peer pressures you into doing something wrong. Novak has kept his ego in check by using the motivation to fire his focus but has stayed away from all the extra junk our egos try to feed us.
Hey, loser, you won! - There isn't a more classy loser than Novak Djokovic. Once the final ball drops, win or lose, Novak can get it together and congratulate his opponent gracefully because even in a loss, Novak has learned something. And that is the key to winning. When you go into something with the mentality of win or lose only, you limit your outcome and growth to things that are not entirely in your control. But if you go into the same situation for the sake of the experience itself, you are the ultimate winner. Moments are invaluable droplets of currency for a champion because, in each one, we learn something new about our games and ourselves. Even the greatest tennis player of all time cannot control if his opponent will play lights out. You can only control yourself, including how you act after a tough defeat and what lessons you take from it.
Step into the fire like you're made of water - Hate or love him, Novak has not been a stranger to conflict. In his early years, the media treated Novak like the stepbrother of Federer and Nadal, like he was not as cool as Federer and not as electric as Nadal. During those times, Novak never changed to fit the media's wishes and stayed true to himself. Eventually, the press came around, as they often do when you become the best. The most notable conflict was the COVID-19 vaccine dilemma, where Novak decided not to get vaccinated because of his beliefs about his own body. Celebrities, the media, and even other tennis stars bashed Novak for his decision, but throughout it all, he stayed consistent. Novak's values, whether you agree with them or not, were more important than the opinions of others. There are a ton of haters in the world, and when the heat is on you, it's easy to compromise what you believe to appease the crowd. But if you stick to your beliefs, the fire can't hurt you because you are an ocean of authenticity.
Surrender certainty to gain control - The ultimate form of control is admitting you don't have control other than what you decide to focus on. Novak's ability to strive for an open mind means he realizes there is still much to learn. If a tennis player who has done it all is still trying to improve on the court, we can all admit there is much to know about our tennis games. More importantly, there is much to learn about our world, societies, people, and relationships with nature and life. It takes courage to admit you don't know it all, and, unfortunately, we often reward false confidence, which is why some of the most powerful people force their views on the silent majority. If you are to learn anything from Novak, it is what he deems his most outstanding achievement. Question yourself, your diet, relationships, and your strictest viewpoints. Live with an open mind and heart. You will control your destiny by freeing yourself from false certainty.
During it all, Novak has credited mindfulness for his success. Staying connected to the moment, learning to breathe through chaos, and embracing a sense of gratitude and love for life are all things we can adopt in our worlds. Whether you're striving to be a French Open finalist or want to make the best French macaroons, learning to be present will help you become a champion of the moment.