---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter who is playing or how…"
description: "\"It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more or less motivation.\" — Monica Seles"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg"
---

#  It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I…

![“It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more or less motivation.” quote by Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg)

> “It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more or less motivation.”

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focus on controllable factors, not external variables, to maintain motivation.

**In simple terms:** Control what you can, ignore the rest.

Key Takeaway

Direct energy to controllable actions.

Themes

focus control motivation self-discipline

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- training routines
- competition preparation
- daily habits

Key Concepts

psychological resilience goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- Which aspects of your performance can you directly influence?
- How do you stay motivated when outcomes are uncertain?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring external factors can limit adaptability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Doesn Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-motivation-2081044/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [More or less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-or-less/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-old-964696/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-control-859596/)

## Related quotes

> [It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give me more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Since I grew up, I have never deliberately used any technique at all other than the physical shaping of my tale so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/since-i-grew-up-i-have-never-deliberately-used-any-technique-at-all/)

[Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/)

> [In a way, Strandbeests have turned into migration animals, and the step counter gives them an idea of where they are. While counting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-jansen/in-a-way-strandbeests-have-turned-into-migration-animals-and-the-step/)

[Theo Jansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-jansen/)

> [It more or less has the shape of a love song, but 'Crescent Moon' reflects more my longing for an ancient romantic context that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-black/it-more-or-less-has-the-shape-of-a-love-song-but-crescent-moon/)

[Frank Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-black/)

> [That's been one of the best things about doing 'Game of Thrones.' My social circle in London has more or less doubled just by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dempsie/that-s-been-one-of-the-best-things-about-doing-game-of-thrones-my/)

[Joe Dempsie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dempsie/)

> [It might be asked, 'How much time shall I allow myself for rest?' The answer is that no rule of universal application can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/it-might-be-asked-how-much-time-shall-i-allow-myself-for-rest-the/)

[George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/)

> [I'm going to say this as an ethereal effect, not something that people are necessarily aware of while it's happening, but my theory is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-going-to-say-this-as-an-ethereal-effect-not-something-that-people/)

[Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/)

> [I think I was more or less, convinced of that by just the press, the US press. By people who were pressuring you, saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-boston/i-think-i-was-more-or-less-convinced-of-that-by-just-the-press-the-us/)

[Ralph Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-boston/)

> [I named it that because more or less each person from the band used to play in other bands and when we left respective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-wood/i-named-it-that-because-more-or-less-each-person-from-the-band-used/)

[Roy Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-wood/)

> [A moral argument about whether censorship is good or bad deteriorates quickly into accusations about who is more or less patriotic, moral, pious, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-moral-argument-about-whether-censorship-is-good-or-bad-deteriorates/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [I would hazard a guess that we have found fossilized human remains of at least a thousand different specimens in South and East Africa,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/i-would-hazard-a-guess-that-we-have-found-fossilized-human-remains-of/)

[Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/)

> [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [Actually, I was more or less determined to be a theoretical physicist at the age of thirteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gross/actually-i-was-more-or-less-determined-to-be-a-theoretical-physicist/)

[David Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gross/)

> [I wish that the world's food was spread evenly on everybody's plate, and that no-one got more or less than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-potts-dawson/i-wish-that-the-world-s-food-was-spread-evenly-on-everybody-s-plate/)

[Arthur Potts Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-potts-dawson/)

> [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

## More by Monica Seles

> [I don't believe in playing hurt, in taking injections to cover the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-don-t-believe-in-playing-hurt-in-taking-injections-to-cover-the-pain/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Everybody has their story - at some point you have to say, 'This is who I am: Now it's up to me to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/everybody-has-their-story-at-some-point-you-have-to-say-this-is-who-i/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Life is not worth living if I cannot have pasta or bread again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/life-is-not-worth-living-if-i-cannot-have-pasta-or-bread-again/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I love new restaurants; I love trying out new foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-love-new-restaurants-i-love-trying-out-new-foods/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I have this terrible dark side to my personality, which playing tennis keeps at bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-have-this-terrible-dark-side-to-my-personality-which-playing-tennis/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I never knew I was grunting, it was just part of my strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-never-knew-i-was-grunting-it-was-just-part-of-my-strokes/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Since I retired, I very much enjoy watching Serena Williams play. While I was playing, she was one of the toughest players I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/since-i-retired-i-very-much-enjoy-watching-serena-williams-play-while/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [You will never have great tennis champions from England because of the cold and dark, but most of all because people only care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/you-will-never-have-great-tennis-champions-from-england-because-of/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Madonna has total control over her life, and not many women have that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/madonna-has-total-control-over-her-life-and-not-many-women-have-that/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [If I find the person that I love, it is because I love them, not because I will be dependent on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/if-i-find-the-person-that-i-love-it-is-because-i-love-them-not/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I lost my dad way too early and it was agonisingly awful. I missed him so much and I hated knowing that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-lost-my-dad-way-too-early-and-it-was-agonisingly-awful-i-missed-him/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I decided that I want to live the rest of my life happy with what I'm doing. So when I play tennis again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-decided-that-i-want-to-live-the-rest-of-my-life-happy-with-what-i-m/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [What I put in the stock market, I don't have to touch in my lifetime. I want to live off my bonds. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/what-i-put-in-the-stock-market-i-don-t-have-to-touch-in-my-lifetime-i/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I have to live for the day, and not worry about or try to know what tomorrow brings… if I've learned one thing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-have-to-live-for-the-day-and-not-worry-about-or-try-to-know-what/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [You have to want to play it all day, every day to get to the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/you-have-to-want-to-play-it-all-day-every-day-to-get-to-the-top/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

[Explore all 41 Monica Seles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more or less motivation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Monica Seles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f21/monica-seles-15869_about_it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how_997341.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give…” — Monica Seles",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Monica Seles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It doesn't matter who is playing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
