When Alex Eala speaks, it is best to listen closely because she will likely share gems of thought, whether about tennis or life in general.
That is exactly what Eala did in her exclusive “Play Mind Games” meet-and-greet on Monday at Nike Fort. Among other things, the articulate 21-year-old rising star shared her journey of self-discovery and the lessons she had to unlearn along the way. One of those lessons, according to the Quezon City native, allowed her to find self-worth and love herself more.
“One thing that I’ve had to unlearn is not to attach self-worth with results. I’m 21, but I’ve been playing tennis since I was 4, so tennis is a big part of my life… One thing I’ve had to unlearn is detaching or not allowing self-worth to correlate with the results,” Eala told the crowd. “I think that is something a little toxic, but it is also something that is a little natural in the field that I’m in. But that is almost more on the personal side than on the professional side.”
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
There is a saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Alex Eala did not explicitly mention it, but the other thing the Rafa Nadal Academy alum said she had to unlearn has to do with needless comparisons.
“Another thing that I’ve had to unlearn—and I think this was more in my teenage years—was comparisons. I think you put a teenage girl, like a 16-year-old girl, who already, every 16-year-old girl or every teenage girl naturally has comparisons to their peers or to whoever, to other teenage girls… And you put her in a setting that is already professional and so demanding, you can imagine what that is like,” Eala pointed out.
Fans can only imagine. Alex Eala lived that experience—and she is all the better for it.
“I think that is a process that I’ve had to go through. And I think it has a lot to do with self-esteem and self-confidence,” she added. “Now, it is like a rock. I’m happy to say that I love myself, and I’m not comparing to anyone else. And I wish that on every little girl and every woman.”
Yep, that is Alex Eala—dropping nuggets of wisdom and wishing everyone else well.
