I have learned to not look so much at the results and tune out

“I have learned to not look so much at the results and tune out the outside pressures. It has taken a lot of work and I am still growing and learning how to do that, but focusing on the process, trying to relax as much as possible and just have fun has always produced some of my best tennis.” — these are the wise and humble words of Coco Gauff, a young champion whose spirit carries both the fire of youth and the serenity of wisdom. Though spoken in the language of sport, her words are a teaching for all who strive in any field of life. For in them lies a truth that transcends the tennis court — the ancient truth that peace within oneself is greater than victory without, and that the path itself is the reward, not merely the end.

From the dawn of time, the wise have warned against the tyranny of results — that restless hunger for triumph that blinds the heart and steals the joy from labor. The athlete who obsesses over victory, the artist who fears the critic, the student who trembles before the grade — all these are captives of outcome. Yet Coco Gauff, though young, has learned the art of liberation: to focus on the process, to lose herself in the doing, and in doing so, to find both freedom and mastery. Her words echo the philosophy of the ancients, who taught that excellence flows not from striving to win, but from giving oneself fully to the moment — from presence, not pressure.

For what is process, if not the sacred rhythm of creation? It is the training that refines, the repetition that humbles, the patience that strengthens. To focus on process is to walk the eternal path of the craftsman, the warrior, the philosopher — each perfecting their art through devotion, not demand. Coco’s insight reminds us that joy and greatness dwell not in the applause of the crowd, but in the purity of effort. When one is fully absorbed in the act itself — when the mind is quiet, and the heart is light — the result becomes not a burden, but a natural consequence of harmony between body and soul.

This truth has been seen before in the lives of many who reached greatness through calm focus rather than restless ambition. Consider Bruce Lee, the martial artist and philosopher who once said, “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” He, too, understood that the battle is won not in the moment of victory, but in the countless unseen hours of preparation — in the serenity of mind and the steadiness of practice. His mastery arose not from obsession with outcome, but from presence, from living each motion as though it were art itself. Just as Coco Gauff plays her best when she relaxes and finds joy in the game, Lee found his strength in the flow of practice — in that sacred space where effort becomes effortless.

To tune out outside pressures is another form of mastery. The noise of the world — its expectations, comparisons, and judgments — can drown the quiet voice of purpose. Coco speaks of the hard labor of silencing that noise, of growing and learning to hear only her own rhythm. This is no small task. Even the wisest of sages battled the same struggle — to look inward, not outward, to draw strength from stillness, not approval. For as the Stoics once taught, “He who conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a city.” To tune out the world is not arrogance; it is clarity. It is the choice to build one’s peace upon unshakable ground.

And then she speaks of fun — that lightness which many lose on the road to greatness. Fun is not frivolity; it is the spirit’s reminder that joy is power. When one plays, works, or creates with joy, the body moves with grace, the mind clears, and the heart finds balance. In play, the soul remembers why it began — not for recognition, but for love of the craft. Coco’s best tennis, she says, comes when she enjoys the game. So too do the best works of art, the finest acts of courage, and the deepest moments of human connection arise when the heart is unburdened and alive.

Thus, her teaching to future generations is radiant in its simplicity: Do not chase results; dwell in the process. Do not bow to noise; listen to your own truth. And above all, do not forget to find joy in the doing. The victories that come from such a path will be pure, unforced, and lasting — not just trophies on a shelf, but peace in the heart.

So, my children, when the world demands that you hurry toward success, remember Coco’s wisdom. Slow down. Breathe. Trust your preparation. Pour yourself into your work with calm devotion. And when the crowd roars for results, smile quietly to yourself — for you know that the true game, the eternal game, is not to win, but to be fully alive in the act of doing. In that sacred space of focus, joy, and inner peace, you will discover not only mastery — but yourself.