How to stop thinking about "outside" problems

Q: i no this doesnt have to do with this form but help me out ok? i have this problem i like a girls who has a boyfriend and i dont no what to do i cant stop thinking about her. can you give me any advice please greatly appreicated it its also throwing off my tennis can ok see ya


A: Ok, here's a ritual that you can use to "train" your mind to stop thinking. When you are still outside the court and are about to enter it, say to yourself: "Since there's nothing I can do to change (put your problem here - girl, job, school, ...) during this tennis game and it also makes me play worse, I will not think about it for the next 2 hours (or how long you intend to play). I will stop thinking about it as soon as I enter the court. And when I come back I will start thinking about it if I have to."

Then enter the court and imagine that your mind shut off all the outside problems.

This may seem a silly exercise but before you make any conclusions try it for a couple of times and then let me know what happened.

This worked 100% for me when I still had to do this. Now it's automatic - my mind just switches from outside life to tennis.