I am getting ready for the final matches of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament and like millions of other Americans have been transfixed by a short little miracle by the name of Melanie Oudin. Just in case you have been in a cave for the last two weeks; she is a 17 year old tennis player from Marietta, Georgia who proved to be a giant killer. She walked out of no where and beat Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic, two players once ranked number 1 . She then turned around and defeated a former number 4 right up to the quarter finals. Keep in mind this young woman was eliminated in the first round of almost every major tournament she entered.
By now you like everyone have heard the story of her trying to think of a motto to put on her tennis shoes, and her boyfriend suggesting “believe…”. Melanie seems to have taken that motto to heart and developed a vision of where she wanted to go and then stuck to it. It goes back to something I have pointed out on numerous blogs, that you have to have a dream you can draw 
on when the road gets rough. As Melanie put it “I just made up my mind and decided to believe I could play these girls and I had a right to be here, that I could beat any of them.”
on when the road gets rough. As Melanie put it “I just made up my mind and decided to believe I could play these girls and I had a right to be here, that I could beat any of them.”And beat them she did, each time digging her way out of a first set hole to come back and win the match. Now, everyone is talking about her mental toughness. Listen as Tracy Austin, another former great young player, describes Melanie’s focus during a NY Times interview:
“I think mental strength is the same as a serve or a forehand as a weapon. Mental toughness is just as important. The fact she can reboot and get back to the point at hand is a total gift.”
Melanie is living proof of the power of belief. That we all have to wander in the wilderness for a time but if we keep our dream in front of us, we can reach our promise land. Believe in the power of belief…
I agree! yes the power of a word can do a lot… Wow to have 'believe' on the side of that shoe, how uplifting and empowering is that? I am sure anyone who buys that shoe will feel something…- power of suggestion can make or break… Great post.
Thanks Chrissy,
Her story really impressed me as well. It gives you an idea of what we are all capable of if we just believe and follow it up with action.
An insightfull post. Will definitely help.
Thanks,
Karim – Positive thinking