Live the Best Story of Your Life by Bob Litwin
Review by Jimmy Parker
Most tennis players are accustomed to trying to make changes in their games that enable them to play better. But what if there was a way to use the concept of constructive change in the rest of their lives? Bob Litwin uses some of the same techniques that enabled him to transform himself into a World Senior Champion to do just that. As leading performance coach on Wall Street, he has explored the ways that the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves dramatically affect the outcomes in our lives, whether we’re on-court or on Wall Street.
The lessons he presents in the book are based on extensive research in the field of human potential. I found the real-life stories engaging, and relevant to anyone who wants to accomplish positive change. Tennis players will easily relate to them. His thesis is simply that the stories we tell ourselves, both consciously and unconsciously, help determine the contours of our lives. And we have the power to reshape them!
If we want to make changes, we can do so by shifting our stories. In effect, we can become better and more appropriate storytellers. First, we learn how to identify our old outworn stories that keep us stuck, and then we are freed up to create new, more vibrant and constructive stories. In the process, we learn to view our lives through a different lens that fosters lasting change.
For a book with such profound implications, it is a fun read. The stories that are woven into the lessons will keep you engaged. And they might even help your tennis game!