When it comes to luck, it’s not something you should wait to land in your lap. Sure there are those who waste spend money on lottery tickets, hoping that they will win big. And then there are others who try to improve their swing through Golf Channel osmosis. But the luckiest people I know are those who set themselves up to “win” big, and do. Playing great golf is NOT just for a select few. If you have been approaching your game with that kind of attitude, it’s time for some significant shifts in thinking and some proactive action. Because waiting for your game to be magically transformed will leave you spending all your time waiting. Imagine what that will feel and look like in another 5-10 years. If you don’t like that picture, and buy into the definition of insanity, keep reading. There are plenty of people who struggle with their game, but keep pushing forward day after day. No, they aren’t playing mind games, trying to convince themselves that things are better than they really are. Nor are they some exception to a rule. What they do have, is a knack for maintaining a creative and opportunistic mindset. How? I can teach you how to achieve more success in your game by adopting this mindset for yourself. With some simple changes to how you approach your golf game, you will begin to see doors of opportunity all around you:
Step 1 – Carpe Diem
Yes, seize the day, every day. Even when you don’t feel as motivated to go out and play or practice, you can decide in advance how to make the most of your time. More than just an attitude — although that is a key component — you must commit to forward action. This starts when you decide to play (and practice) with purpose. That means setting goals. It’s great to have long-term goals, but make sure that each day you play golf you plan ahead of time what you want to accomplish either mentally or physically and set interim goals. Having a purpose enables you to feel like a winner when you leave the course having achieved what you set out to do.
Step 2 – Become a Detective
As I mentioned above, the “waiting for things to just happen” approach can be pretty fruitless. Why not take some action and create opportunities? The best way to do this is to be on the lookout for them. They may lie in plain sight, or be hiding within something that you might have otherwise viewed as a failure. With the ups and downs of golf, the smart golfer is always looking for the silver lining in every hole. In order to be an effective detective, you will need to train yourself to default to positive after every shot by being objective. Allowing your negative emotions to rule will keep your mind closed to the many possibilities of keeping your head and ball in the game. For example, you may find that you become the very best golfer in your group at brilliantly hitting out of the rough, if you take the time to master every less than ideal experience.
Step 3 – How Loose is Your Goose?
Being uptight and anxious is not going to allow you the luxury of playing within a state of flow. Being in the zone is the Holy Grail for elite athletes. It begins by being mentally relaxed about your play, which leads to a place of physical relaxation. Trying to play with a death grip on your club or the game will get you nowhere fast. The easiest way to relax is to make sure that your focus stays in the present and on the process. Worrying about past shots or the score (future) makes it next to impossible to play great golf in the moment. Secondly, avoid approaching the next shot with preconceived negative idea about what might happen. Harness your thoughts and replay similar great shots in your mind to boost your confidence about the shot at hand. These are just a few tips to get you to a place where you can begin to produce better play, and see more creative opportunities that you may have been unknowingly blocking in the past. You will be amazed by what happens when you just shift your mindset from limitation to liberation. It’s time to be a more proactive, rather than reactive golfer. So get going! If you have specific questions about your game, I would be happy to talk to you. Contact Me to discuss how we can move your game forward.
Leave a Reply