--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To take pressure off myself, I realize…" description: "\"To take pressure off myself, I realize how fortunate I am to be playing a sport for a living. If I take that mentality onto the court, there shouldn't ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/john-isner-4856_court_to-take-pressure-off-myself-i-realize-ho_1117136.jpg" --- # To take pressure off myself, I realize how fortunate I am… ![“To take pressure off myself, I realize how fortunate I am to be playing a sport for a living. If I take that mentality onto the court, there shouldn't be any pressure because I'm already fortunate to do what I do.” quote by John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/john-isner-4856_court_to-take-pressure-off-myself-i-realize-ho_1117136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/john-isner-4856_court_to-take-pressure-off-myself-i-realize-ho_1117136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/john-isner-4856_court_to-take-pressure-off-myself-i-realize-ho_1117136.jpg) > “To take pressure off myself, I realize how fortunate I am to be playing a sport for a living. If I take that mentality onto the court, there shouldn't be any pressure because I'm already fortunate to do what I do.” [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing gratitude for a sports career reduces self‑imposed pressure and improves performance. **In simple terms:** Being thankful eases pressure. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude to stay calm. Themes mindset gratitude performance Mood reflective calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - tennis matches - practice drills - mental preparation Key Concepts psychology self‑talk sports Questions to Reflect On - How does gratitude affect your focus? - Can you maintain this mindset under high stakes? A Different Perspective Gratitude alone may not address external expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Back in the '80s and '90s, when there was still a record business, there was pressure on anyone who was fortunate to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/back-in-the-80s-and-90s-when-there-was-still-a-record-business-there/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [People keep asking me if I feel pressure. But I don't feel pressure. I realize there's a lot on my plate, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/people-keep-asking-me-if-i-feel-pressure-but-i-don-t-feel-pressure-i/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [The competitive nature of the game, and playing any sport really, is something I've always been drawn to. I think you gotta enjoy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/the-competitive-nature-of-the-game-and-playing-any-sport-really-is/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [I like playing sport. I'm a bit of a design enthusiast, and like spending time with my girlfriend and mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-d-aloisio/i-like-playing-sport-i-m-a-bit-of-a-design-enthusiast-and-like/) [Nick D'Aloisio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-d-aloisio/) > [Actors normally go to the gym to achieve a certain kind of fitness for a role but when you start playing a sport, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/actors-normally-go-to-the-gym-to-achieve-a-certain-kind-of-fitness/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [Going to a gym or playing a sport should not be mechanical. There should be an emotional attachment to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/going-to-a-gym-or-playing-a-sport-should-not-be-mechanical-there/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [I love playing any sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-love-playing-any-sport/) [Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/) > [I grew up playing every sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-creamer/i-grew-up-playing-every-sport/) [Paula Creamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-creamer/) > [I have my kids myself and I know how much playing football and playing sport means to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-dallas/i-have-my-kids-myself-and-i-know-how-much-playing-football-and/) [Stuart Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-dallas/) > [I'm not the most delicate - I'm not the most graceful person, and I like playing a sport where being not delicate and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccormack/i-m-not-the-most-delicate-i-m-not-the-most-graceful-person-and-i-like/) [Mary McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccormack/) > [I have to say that sports is what kept me out of trouble. No matter the circumstances, my mom kept us playing sports. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashard-lewis/i-have-to-say-that-sports-is-what-kept-me-out-of-trouble-no-matter/) [Rashard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashard-lewis/) > [The paid professionals who navigate the complications of playing their sport during a pandemic at least share in the financial rewards. Far worse off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/the-paid-professionals-who-navigate-the-complications-of-playing/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [Playing the sport has taught me about teamwork and how to be a good team player, social skills and most importantly, dedication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban-2/playing-the-sport-has-taught-me-about-teamwork-and-how-to-be-a-good/) [P. K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban-2/) > [I grew up watching as much Olympics as I could, checking out all the sports. As a kid, you dream of playing your sport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/i-grew-up-watching-as-much-olympics-as-i-could-checking-out-all-the/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [If you like working out in a gym over playing a sport, then you should go ahead and do it. It is about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-you-like-working-out-in-a-gym-over-playing-a-sport-then-you-should/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) ## More by John Isner > [You know, Slams are tough. It's the most physical, in my opinion. You're playing three out of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-know-slams-are-tough-it-s-the-most-physical-in-my-opinion-you-re/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [There are a lot of things that go on between the lines of a tennis court, mentally, physically and whatnot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-go-on-between-the-lines-of-a-tennis/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [For many years, tennis was the most important thing in my life. That was great. Nothing wrong with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/for-many-years-tennis-was-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The best thing about being 6'9'' is that it helps with my tennis game, especially with my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-best-thing-about-being-6-9-is-that-it-helps-with-my-tennis-game/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [My favorite tournament is the U.S. Open because the atmosphere is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/my-favorite-tournament-is-the-u-s-open-because-the-atmosphere-is-great/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Any time you get to come to New York and be near New York City, that is a very cool opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/any-time-you-get-to-come-to-new-york-and-be-near-new-york-city-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I know where I'm ranked, but I don't look at it that much, I don't study it that much. You really can't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-know-where-i-m-ranked-but-i-don-t-look-at-it-that-much-i-don-t/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I always ask for the exit row when flying. Airlines are pretty accommodating and most of the time I'll get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-always-ask-for-the-exit-row-when-flying-airlines-are-pretty/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [You're going to lose points and gain points throughout the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-re-going-to-lose-points-and-gain-points-throughout-the-year/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [People seem to think when you lose a match it's because you are not working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/people-seem-to-think-when-you-lose-a-match-it-s-because-you-are-not/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [A lot of times when I'm confident and relaxed on the court, I'm going to be a pretty tough out. But when I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/a-lot-of-times-when-i-m-confident-and-relaxed-on-the-court-i-m-going/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [When I fly overseas, I usually fly business class. 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