Introducing Self 1 and Self 2

Consider a time when you experienced peak performance. If that’s too hard, recall reading or hearing about someone else’s peak performance experience. OK, now I can bet you one thing. Your memory of this peak experience does not include the word “overthinking”. Rather, words like “effortless” or “flow” come to mind. We can all agree, and the research supports it, that there’s an ease about peak performance that plays opposite to “trying hard”. 

So, in an effort (pun intended) to drop into peak performance more frequently, it’s helpful to have a broad understanding of what’s going on in the mind when we’re not in flow. 

In his book, The Inner Game of Tennis, Timothy Gallwey introduces the reader to Self 1 and Self 2. Self 1 can be thought of as the ego-mind. It’s always thinking, always commenting, and incredibly judgmental. Self 2 is the body. It includes the unconscious mind and the nervous system. Self 1 is the “teller” and Self 2 is the “doer”. But, Self 2 is not subservient. It is actually very wise; it just doesn’t have a chance to do its thing because, well, Self 1 nags . . . a lot. 

As we perform in our arena of choice, Self 1 does a lot of chatting: “Do more. Try harder. You’re not doing it right. Oh, forget it. You don’t deserve to be here. You’re a fraud” . . . blah, blah, blah. Unfortunately, all this does is prevent Self 2, the wise body, from doing what it already knows how to do.

This is really about trust. We need tools for teaching Self 1 how to trust Self 2. Once that trust is established, Self 1 doesn’t feel the need to nag. And assuming we’ve had an extended period of deliberate practice, then Self 2 has the space to perform the way it’s been trained to. 

I can’t tell you how many times each week I speak with an athlete whose Self 1 is dominating the game. They usually say, “I know I’m in my head”, but figuring out how to quiet Self 1 and allow Self 2 to perform purely is a huge challenge. Next in this series, we’ll tackle how to quiet the mind (shhh, Self 1) by developing non-judgement and ultimately cultivating self-confidence.

In the meantime, pay attention to when your Self 1 chimes in . . . and what the heck it says.