foreword

“The images we hold in our heads have tremendous power. The first time I won Wimbledon, it was not the first time I experienced holding the trophy in my hands. I had held the  Wimbledon trophy in my imagination for years. My dad planted  the seed when I was little by telling me that one day, I’d win  Wimbledon. I believed him, but then again, what did I know  about the world in fourth grade? 

I had no idea what my journey would be, but I knew I’d have a big future. Wimbledon was such an iconic image that I could  hold it in my mind’s eye. So I would:.

• Imagine winning the match point 

• Imagine hitting great shots 

• Imagine getting the trophy 

• Holding the trophy 

• Kissing the trophy 

• Lifting it over my head

These images became embedded in me. I had a destination and goals. Like most athletes, I am goal driven. Thankfully, I had  confidence too. I always felt like I could match up to anybody  and compete in whatever sport I wanted to pursue. I chose tennis  because I loved it. The moment I stepped out onto the court, I  was home. I always loved tennis, and if I could win playing it, how great was that? I was not pushed into it by anyone—quite the opposite. When it came time to practise, I was the first one out the  door and onto the court.

When I was five years old, I would hit the ball against a wall for hours, and I loved it! Keep in mind this was long before smart  phones and social media. I was never bored, and I never minded  doing what it took to get better—no matter how strenuous or monotonous. The training was all part of the process, even the pain.  I was not just going to eat the icing off the cake and leave the  centre, because that is not how champions are made. I did not  pick and choose which part of the tough conditioning I wanted to  do; I was committed to doing all of it. If I respected a coach, I’d  listen and do my homework. You may be saying to yourself: That’s easy for you to say; you are Martina Navratilova. That’s true— but I was once a pre-adolescent  pip-squeak on the train to Prague. I was carrying my big dreams as  well as my schoolbag and a tennis bag when a stranger asked me,  “Why all those tennis racquets?” I said I played tennis, and I quietly  trusted that, someday, they would not ask that question. 

If you decide to go for your dream, you will likely be tested by adversity. It is important to have an internal compass that  no one can touch, neither a critic nor a popular opponent. My  life purpose is a commitment to human rights, a commitment  to fairness, a value that came from my outspoken parents. The  fame I gained from tennis enabled me to use my platform to  speak out and maybe change some people’s minds about their  prejudices. 

I am not perfect, obviously. But when I make a mistake, I learn and adapt. That’s what you have to do when you play tennis.  It teaches you many good lessons for life. On the court I faced my nerves and the constant “what-ifs.”  Off the court I had to overcome many setbacks, including the  opinions of media and society. I made bigger headlines when  I lost than when I won. Back then was not like today—players  could not connect with fans on social media. I was in a seesaw  battle throughout my career: I felt welcome in a foreign land for  my athleticism, and then rejected for my sexual orientation. However, despite the social pressure from the media, I never lost sight  of me. I carried on and knew in my head and my heart that I was  ahead of my time. I was a strong, outspoken gay woman with  muscles. I believed the world would catch up one day, and it did. 

Just as Jonathan and Jo will teach you in this book, knowing your “why,” understanding your internal belief system, and  connecting to your moral compass will serve you when the tide  is against you. In those moments, I encourage you to fi nd a way.  Don’t be cowed by convention; find your own path. And I’m going to take a moment and speak directly to the women athletes who might be reading this book. If you are a  woman athlete, it’s more essential than ever to know your values and your value. Social media has given people a licence to be  nasty, and navigating that can be particularly hard for us women  since we tend to focus on the negative. It’s easy to internalize malicious comments, and it does not take much for a seed of doubt  to turn into an oak tree in your mind.There was this writer—a famous tennis reporter—who once told me that I had a hard time closing matches when I was serving for the match. I never told him this, but his words got stuck  in my head for a while. His comment didn’t always arise in me, but most times when I was serving for the match, that comment  popped up, and I had to fi ght it. Also, I had no idea if what he said was true. Back then, we didn’t have access to stats like today.  I couldn’t look it up and know if that was really a weak part of my game. I just had to wonder, and that was enough to lead to the  occasional overthinking of a shot. This is why I tell athletes not  to read things about themselves. I got through this mental block  with action. We didn’t have sports psychologists when I was competing. I wish we’d had tools to reset into a positive space during  a match. But we have those tools now, and the great thing is that  they’re currently sitting in your hands. Jo and Jonathan offer tools in this book, like developing cues to reset your thinking, to help  you overcome adversity and commit to achieving the goals that  matter to you. 

These tools are rooted in Functional Imagery Training, or FIT, a field in which Jo and Jonathan are leading experts. I used  imagery on the court, but it works off the court too. When I saw  Julia’s face, I knew that I wanted to look at that face for the rest  of my life. We’ve been through some tough times in marriage and  raising kids. But I keep coming back to that image. This book is about finding you first—your values and your goals—and then putting the rubber to the road, so to speak,  with imagery. My greatest value in life is fairness. It’s my North  Star and helps me navigate in the world. One way in which  this manifests is surrounding myself with like-minded friends  who share that value. When I met Jo, I trusted her because she  was a therapist, and I believed she’d keep what I shared with  her in confidence. We also shared a common commitment to  a more just world. We have worked alongside one another to  register young voters in Miami. We have attended conferences  and fundraising events for LGBT rights. She’s a good friend that I have turned to for advice and counsel. Each time, she’s there  with a calm, reassuring voice. So I have absolute confidence that  the information and advice she offers you in The Choice Point will serve you in your life. 

Whatever your dream is, I hope you take the time to imagine  it to its fullest extent. Take that seed of aspiration and turn it into  an oak tree. Believe that you can become a better version of yourself, whether it’s on the tennis court (whatever that may be for  you) or in your personal life. I hope you will have the ability to one  day look back on your life, career, and legacy and say, “I was true  to myself and worked to improve myself, my family, friends, and  my collective community to the best of my ability.” What could be  more important than that?”

- Martina Navratilova