Do you know that efficient breathing can help your golf game?

Breathing is the most vital body function you have. The intake of oxygen is necessary for your brain function. Almost all your body functions interact with your breath. You can live forty days without food, ten days without water, but only four to six minutes without oxygen. Without breath, there is no life.

When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide which is a waste product of cellular respiration during the production of energy. The golf course is a wonderful place to energize your body as the trees take in your carbon dioxide waste and give off life-enhancing oxygen for you to inhale.

With a reduced intake of oxygen, you could also experience:

  • Indecision: difficulty in choosing clubs or reading greens.
  • Short term memory loss: forgetting to consider all options before hitting.
  • Difficulty of complex tasks: trouble shots, short-sided shots, big breaking putts.

The way you breathe can directly affect your emotional state. Changing your breathing can change your thoughts and emotions. Paying attention to your breath is a vehicle for releasing stress and allowing the body to find its balance. Your breathing is a good indicator of your feelings and thinking patterns. Proper breathing can relieve stress-related symptoms, such as performance anxiety. It is important to keep your breathing even for consistent golf.

When you are tense or anxious, your body gives you signals such as perspiration, tightness or pain in the stomach, rapid heartbeat, short breaths, raw throat, and clammy, shaky hands. When you are relaxed, your breathing will be deep, regular, comfortable, smooth, and easy instead of shallow, rapid, and irregular.

Shallow breathing while stressed reduces your energy, compromises your motor skills, and reduces oxygen intake. In addition, there are psychological consequences that will lessen your abilities to perform.

Do you hold your breath when you swing? 

When frustrated or angry, most people breathe in, hold their breath, and tense their bodies. When there is tension, the body cannot move smoothly and efficiently. Tension is the number one golf swing wrecker and can cause a variety of golf problems. Instead of producing a smooth, effortless easy swing, the anxious golfer uses brute force resulting in a fast, jerky, hard swing.

Many golfers say that they do hold their breath when they are swinging. Pay attention to how you breathe. Like your golf swing which has a momentary pause at the top of the backswing to change direction, your breath also has a momentary pause when it changes from the inhale to the exhale. The rhythm of your breath is affected by changes in your state of mind. Conversely, you can change your state of mind by changing the rhythm of your breath.

Holding your breath causes more tension, which inhibits your smooth club motions. Less tension creates faster club head speed. Increased club head speed means more distance which is a goal of every golfer.

Slow down, take a deep breath, and calm down 

Your breathing is a good indicator of your feelings and thinking patterns. Proper breathing can relieve stress-related symptoms such as performance anxiety. It is important to keep your breathing even for consistent golf. Proper breathing can prevent nervousness and improve your short game motor skills when the pressure is on.

When nervous, frustrated, or angry in a pressure packed golf situation, golfers tend to freeze, tense their bodies and swing quickly to avoid the feelings. When there is tension, the body cannot move smoothly and efficiently. Tension can cause a variety of swing problems including poor club head speed, incorrect swing path and faulty clubface alignment at impact.

We have been taught to relieve tension by sucking in our stomachs, taking in a big breath and throwing our shoulders back. This creates tension and tightness in your chest and shoulder muscles. In golf we need to have these muscles relaxed so we can make a full shoulder turn to set up the torque for maximum golf club acceleration.

Breathing consciously and deliberately is a gamechanger for all golfers. Under stress you breathe high in your chest, which means that only half of the capacity of the lungs is being used. The air is only moving out from the top half of the lungs. When you use the entire lung capacity, the brain is then more fully oxygenated.

Breathing in deep, long breaths through your abdomen sends the incoming oxygen to every part of the body, refreshing and relaxing every cell. Whenever you want to focus in the moment, take several long, deep breaths. Now is the only time you have. Use deep breathing to experience the joy of the moment by releasing all perceived stress and anxiety as you exhale.

If your abdomen is not expanding when you inhale, and falling back when you exhale, you are not breathing the most efficient way for your mental, emotional, physical coordination and health. Abdominal breathing allows adequate room for the lungs to expand and take in adequate oxygen.

Deep breathing by allowing your stomach to protrude on the inhale is the key to relaxation. The more you relax, the better you feel. The more you relax, the easier it is to focus. The more you relax, the better you perform.

Relaxation of the mind and body is key to hitting one shot at a time, and for focusing in the moment of now.

My personal preference to relax before hitting any shot on the golf course is to inhale deep breaths during my pre-shot routine. I take three deep breaths consciously; one each to calm and focus my mind, my body, and my spirit.

Here are six important reasons for using deep breathing before every shot and putt:

  1. Breathing deeply relaxes your muscles.
  2. Breathing deeply clears and focuses your mind.
  3. Breathing deeply helps you to visualize
  4. Breathing deeply helps you to feel your shot or putt.
  5. Breathing deeply keeps your arousal level
  6. Breathing deeply helps you to regain balance after a mishit.

Use deep breathing during your range practice as well as during your round to get yourself to let go of overthinking and to focus. Make it part of your pre-shot mindset so you can pay attention to what you are doing in the moment.

Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time!

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

 If you haven’t visited the Positive Mental Imagery website lately, I would like to invite you to log on at www.pmi4.com  The PMI website is dedicated to you and to your success in performing at your peak performance level on the golf course.

To help you develop a consistently strong mental game, the PMI website since 2000 has archived a monthly mental golf instruction newsletter, mental golf articles, Q & A, and eight different golf self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s to power up your mental beliefs and attitudes by listening in the privacy of your home. Order today on the website at www.pmi4.com/cart

Learn how to play on automatic pilot “in the zone” effortlessly to access your peak performances. Contact Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

If this monthly blog has been helpful to you, feel free to pass it along to your golf friends so they may have more fun playing the game of golf while lowering their scores. They may wish to know about it, and to subscribe—which, as you know, costs nothing. So. give them a chance to find out about the mental keys that will improve their golf games.

 

 

 

What is your body language saying on the golf course?

Are you using positive self-talk but sabotaging your game with your body language?

Non-Verbal Communication:

Recent research shows that the mind controls the body, and the body also communicates with the mind.  Babies first learn to make their wishes known by pointing, shaking their heads, crying, arching their backs, smiling, etc.  Actually most of our communication is done non-verbally, or as is more commonly known, body language. Adults communicate 55% of the time with non-verbal movements. Verbal communication consists of 38% tone, quality and volume and words and content are only 7%.

For example, when you see someone standing in the fairway behind you with their hands on their hips, what is your perception of what that person is communicating to you?

·        As you watch the pros on TV, what does their body language say to you?

·        What is the message you are sending to your brain about your next shot?

·        Do you stand up tall and walk briskly with confidence to your ball?

·        Do you look defeated and slouch in the golf cart after a missed shot?

·        Do you grimace when you miss a putt thereby reinforcing the memory of the missed putt in your unconscious?

·        Are you “anchoring” (reinforcing) your missed shots with your body language?

Your body “speaks” to your mind, just as your mind instructs your body what to do. How you use your body determines what portion of your brain you are using. If you aspire to play like a champion, you need to walk, talk and have the posture of a champion golfer.  

Verbal Communication:

Every thought or idea causes a physical reaction. Your thoughts can affect all of the functions of your body. WORRY thoughts trigger changes in the stomach that in time can lead to ulcers. ANGER thoughts stimulate your adrenal glands that put increased adrenaline in the blood streamccausing many body changes including a speeded-up golf swing. ANXIETY and FEAR thoughts affect your pulse rate.

Ideas that have a strong emotional content almost always reach the subconscious mind, because it is the feeling mind. Once accepted, these ideas continue to produce the same body reaction over and over again.

Develop a memory to replace a missed shot. Rehearse the swing that you do want either physically or in your mind. Focus on the “feel” and “tempo” of the swing. Rehearse the easy, smooth, effortless motion of the new swing in your mind. Anchor it into your unconscious by feeling the excitement of producing the new swing. When you tie it into your emotions it will be much easier to remember it the next time you stand over the ball.

How do we get out of the “tension trap” of listening to our minds that are creating dis-stress in our bodies?

1.   The first step on the ladder to mental calmness is awareness. Be aware of the tension created in your physical body by mentally scanning your body for tightness. Some examples are:

·        tension in the hands create too tight a grip on the golf club,

·        talking fast or with an anxious voice creates fast movements,

·        an ache in the stomach area causes a distraction,

·        clenching the teeth causes jaw tension,

·        facial nervous mannerisms such as biting the lower lip or holding the tongue        between  the teeth causes tension,

·        tension in the shoulders causes tightness in the shoulder muscles.

Consciously relax by telling yourself to let go of the tension by relaxing the muscles, or breathing into a suggestion such as loose and limp muscles in the tight area. As you let go of the tension, be aware of the resulting looseness and feeling of relaxation.

2. You are now ready to move up the ladder. The next step is to consciously relax your mind and become silent within to allow your unconscious mind to access the skills you have practiced.

A person goes to the library and asks for a certain book, but he keeps talking and does not listen for the information from the librarian. He continues to explain how badly he wants the book and how long he has been searching for it.  In golf, we are continually talking to others or ourselves about how we are doing. Let go of the chatter, become quiet, and listen instead to what your body is feeling, seeing and hearing.

3. Smile to reduce tension and relax your body. . Research has shown that smiling causes physiological changes in the body. Cortisol, the chemical that indicates stress in the body is reduced, and there is an increase in endorphins that elevate your mood and calm you down.

It’s okay to fake a smile. If you put on a happy face, or just smile inside to yourself, your body responds as if the smile was genuine. The next time you are frowning over a missed putt or shot, turn the corners of your lips upward and hold it and notice the change in your physiology. This simple change will cause your physiology to change and put you in better state of mind and body to execute the next shot. When you smile you become calm and relaxed and lower your stress level.

If you just believe in yourself you can do whatever your heart desires. Just stand back and smile and give yourself a chance.

4. At the top of the ladder you are now “being” instead of “doing”. Become consciously aware of yourself by becoming the observer. Without judging, be aware of your breathing, talking, walking, facial expressions, swinging of the club, and the interactions with other players. When you are watching yourself you are no longer thinking and are out of the “tension trap”.

5. Playing in the “Zone State” you have gone to a place inside your mind that is completely independent of the outside world. No matter what is happening out there on the golf course, you can be calm, at peace and in control inside.

Spring has arrived and with it the promise of new fresh growth. Clean out your mental closets of old ideas that no longer work for you. Pull out the straggly weeds and plant new ideas of letting go, relaxation, and experiencing being in the moment to produce new mental growth. Create a New World within that is always in control, confident, always ready to access your peak performances and has unlimited knowledge.

Access your true spirit. Enjoy your successes. Feel victorious and unstoppable. Know the truth of who you are and connect with your true Self that is always victorious.

Don’t allow your mind to trick you into believing your worst. Don’t allow your mind to keep reminding you of your missed shots. Keep your mind on track. Don’t flip the switch that transfers your mind like railroad cars from one track to another. Stay on track in the present moment with images of your best shots. Feel the resulting good feelings of playing at your best.  Don’t go down the other track of bad memories and missed opportunities. Stay in the NOW. NOW is NEW. NOW is FUN. NOW is CREATIVE.  Watch, feel, hear and enjoy!

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Brain for Peak Performance!

If these golf tips are of value to you and you would like to improve your mental golf game, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. She can be reached by phone at 828-707-5478, by email at pmi4@bellsouth.net or through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog.

P.S. Feel free to pass this monthly PMI blog of mental golf keys to any friends you may have. They may wish to know about it, and to subscribe at www.pmi4.com/blog — which, as you know, costs nothing. Send it on to a friend!

To train your brain to play focused golf for accessing your peak performances, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-empowering guided imagery self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s in the privacy of your own home at www.pmi4.com/cart

“THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.

 “THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq

All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

 

 

SPRINGTIME MENTAL GOLF PREPARATION

How many times on the golf course after a missed shot have you realized what you had done to miss it? Take the time to prepare mentally before your shot to produce the result you desire.

Spring has arrived and with it the promise of new fresh growth. It’s time to clean out your mental closets of old ideas that no longer work for you. Pull out the straggly weeds and plant ideas of letting go, relaxation, and experiencing being in the moment. Create a new mindset that is always in control, confident, and ready to access your peak performances.

Don’t allow your mind to trick you into believing your worst. Don’t allow your mind to keep reminding you of your missed shots. Keep your mind on track. Don’t flip the switch that transfers your mind like railroad cars from one track to another.  Stay on track in the present moment with images of your best shots. Feel the resulting good feelings of playing at your best. Don’t go down the other track of bad memories and missed opportunities.

Managing your thoughts and emotions before, during and after your round of golf makes the difference between success and failure. This is the part of the game that does not depend on athletic ability. Everyone has the same ability to build a strong mental strategy for playing this game. It’s never too late for a great beginning.

Give every shot & putt your full intention and attention

It is my belief that all missed golf shots are due to mental errors. It is important to prepare your mind 100% for the result you want. The key to scoring is to prepare your mind thoroughly the same way every time. Practice your pre-shot routine on the range until it becomes a habit. This will turn your preparation over to your subconscious mind to close out any extraneous thoughts.

The USGA Rules of Golf allow you 40 seconds to prepare to hit your shot. This is plenty of time to do the following.

  • Use good course managementTake the time to think positively about your strategy. Consider the lie of your ball in the grass. Is it on a slope? Is it under a tree? What is your safest target? Will the wind affect your distance and direction? Use conservative course management when you are not playing well. Increase your chances of scoring lower by hitting to places for the best advantage. Hit to the center of the greens to avoid short siding your next shot. When possible, leave the ball below the cup.
  • Play percentage shots you know you can hit to keep you out of trouble situations. Weigh thoroughly the risk and reward options of being aggressive.
  • Do not overthink the situation. When the analytical ego mind takes over, it creates doubt, fear, and resistance to the creative process of what you desire.
  • Be decisive about your club selection. After you have analyzed all the factors that go into determining which club to use, be strong-minded, let go of all doubt, and trust your decision. It is important to believe that the club you have chosen is the perfect one you need to get the ball to your target. Trust the club in your hands to produce a good solid golf shot.
  • Clear your mind of all previous shots. Thinking about missed shots in your past draws your attention away from the shot you are about to hit.
  • Clear your mind of all negative emotions. Fearful thoughts are the result of past experiences. Decide not to bring the past into the present. Let go of all “what if” fear thoughts of where the ball might go offline. Visualize the trajectory of the ball and “see it” landing on your target. This will instruct your inner mind and body.
  • Focus in the moment. Leave your ego at home. Remove all conversation in your head that says you should have, could have, or if only thoughts. Replace those thoughts with “I can…” or “I am….”
  • Clear your mind of all distractions. If you are distracted by movement, noises outside your head, or thoughts inside your head, back off and begin your pre-shot routine again.
  • Take a practice swing to feel your swing tempo. Stop thinking about how to swing the club. Feel your personal rhythm by taking practice swings. Limit your thinking to one thought about how to access your swing.
  • Take deep abdominal breaths to slow down your thinking mind. Breathing deeply will put your mind and body in a relaxed state for alertness and easier focus on the process of preparation.
  • Be precise in your alignment. Set up correctly. Pick an intermediate spot to align yourself correctly to your target.
  • Be ready to enjoy hitting the shot. Smile inside to create a sense of ease, confidence, and fun for the shot you are about to hit.

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

If these golf tips are of value to you and you would like to improve your mental golf game, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. She can be reached by phone at 828-707-5478, by email at pmi4@bellsouth.net or through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog.

P.S. Feel free to pass this monthly PMI blog of mental golf keys to any friends you may have. They may wish to know about it, and to subscribe at www.pmi4.com/blog — which, as you know, costs nothing. Send it on to a friend!

To train your brain to play focused golf for accessing your peak performances, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-empowering guided imagery self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s in the privacy of your own home at www.pmi4.com/cart

“THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world. 

“THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq

All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

DOES YOUR FRONT 9 SCORE MATCH YOUR BACK 9 SCORE?

My daughter, a working mother and weekend golfer, called to tell me that she had shot a 40 on the front 9 of her golf course, and a 54 on the back 9. How many times has that happened to you? It is an indication of how mental the game of golf is.

It reminded me of the time a friend, a 36-handicap golfer broke 40 on the front 9. Her husband met her at the turn. She was so excited, she told him in detail about her round. On the back 9 she was back to her normal over 50 score. How does this happen?

When you are “in the zone” playing at your peak performance level, you are allowing your subconscious mind to perform with the habitual skills you have installed there.

When these two golfers realized that they had played at their personal best, they stopped allowing and moved into the conscious thinking part of their brain to analyze how they did it. You will remember that the conscious part of your brain analyzes, rationalizes, and judges your performance. This thinking causes indifference and a change in your state.

I also remember when my husband shot a course record 62 on one of our home courses. There was no talk about score or about how he was playing. Our conversation and his entire focus were on the current hole and making another birdie or better.

Heaven on Earth

Being “in the zone” is to experience moments of heaven. You are intensely present with the experience in the moment. There is a sense of perfection in that moment that nothing can go wrong. If it does, it will be rectified with the next golf shot.

In this state, a golfer experiences feelings of total calm and peace (no fear); ease and effortless in swinging; a heightened sense of intuition (which club to hit); ease of movement; total enjoyment; a sense of euphoria; increased power; intensified concentration (no indecision or distractions); mental clarity (seeing a line on the green/or a line to the target); and a feeling of being in complete control.

In order to access this heavenly state, you must let go of control (conscious mind) and allow your inner self (unconscious mind) to perform with the instructions you have put into it. When golfers are in this right state of mind, they typically play with more accuracy due to an increased sense of feel and awareness, hit the ball longer, and shoot lower scores indicative of their peak potential. In this right state of mind, you can access your peak performance throughout the round.

It might feel as if you are in a different world and someone else is swinging the golf club for you. You will experience joy in the present.

Change your state of being

To play at your best you need to change your state. What does this mean? It means that you change your inner state of thinking and analyzing to allowing your subconscious mind to activate all the information you have stored there.   To have more control, you must let go of control. It is called “the zone state” or the universal flow state. It is where you are the healthiest and are at peace within yourself and totally focused on what is happening in the present moment.

Everyone can be in the zone at any time they choose. You do it by relaxing into whatever it is you are doing, and letting go of thinking about what you are going to do in the next moment. When you watch small children playing you will notice that they are often so totally wrapped up in what they are doing, undistracted by anything outside such as parents calling them in for dinner, they just don’t hear the call because they are so absorbed in just being there in that moment.

Patrick Cantley, PGA Tour, explained how he won the 2021 FedEx after leading it for over a week. “It was tough. It was definitely different than any other week. It’s the longest lead I’ve ever held. I just tried to stay day after day in the present. I really did a good job of staying present and focusing as hard as I could on every shot. That’s what golf is — not getting ahead of yourself and just locking in and giving every shot your full attention.”

You are the only one that can change your state in an instant. Choose a positive state and play a new script. It’s really about mindfulness, your own mindset, being constantly aware of what you are thinking, saying, or doing in each moment. Pay attention when your mind is off somewhere else. Bring it back to the present by using your pre-shot routine which prepares you to focus on the process. It is a signal to the unconscious mind to get ready to perform.

Practice just being as often as you can during the day – stopped at a traffic light, waiting in line, in any free and unoccupied moment, and it will come easier and quicker on the golf course.

Smile every chance you get; not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have.

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

If these golf tips are of value to you and you would like to improve your mental golf game, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. She can be reached by phone at 828-707-5478, by email at pmi4@bellsouth.net or through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog.

To train your brain to play focused golf for accessing your peak performances, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-empowering guided imagery self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s in the privacy of your own home at www.pmi4.com/cart.

“THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances”  explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.

“THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq  All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLAY GOLF WITH “HEART”

February is the shortest month on the calendar, and this one in 2023 is jam-packed with must-see sporting events. Leading the roster is the NFL Super Bowl LVII championship with the Philadelphia Eagles facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 12th.  It is the world’s highest watched TV program every year.

Beginning this week, The Winter Olympics Games run for 17 riveting days from February 4th through the 20th in Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China. The Olympic constitution states, “The Divine Intent of the Olympic Games is for the Family of Humanity to set aside our differences and to come together in Peace as we attain our highest level of excellence.”

On the PGA Tour, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will take place this week at the Monterey Peninsula Shore Course, Spyglass Hill, and Pebble Beach Golf Links from Thursday, February 2nd through the 5th.

How can these world-class athletes make sure their performances peak when it matters most?

Athletes are victorious when they perform with “heart”

“Heart” is the word we use in sports when an athlete competes totally laser-focused, supremely motivated, excited about performing and resilient against setbacks and failure. Playing with passion makes the game more fun. When a golfer is fully absorbed in the moment and enjoying the spirit of the game, they are “in the zone” playing way above their expectations.

February is the month of love. February 14th is widely regarded as the day of expressing love. In addition to remembering that you love someone else, remember that loving yourself comes first.

The feeling of love comes from your heart. The feeling of hitting a perfect golf shot resonates in your heart. Discounting that feeling by judging the result keeps you in your thinking mind.

Love is a state of peace inside and out where you are focused in the moment. Love is the greatest emotion that brings us joy.

As humans we block out the awareness of the feeling of love by allowing negative thought patterns and fear-based actions to interfere with enjoying our lives and our golf games. Play from your heart instead of your brain as your heart has 5-6,000 times more energy than the brain.

Perhaps this year you can gift yourself by remembering through all the adversities how much you love to play golf. When you are in love with playing golf, you have lost yourself in the euphoric feeling, forgotten your ego and personality, and are one with that feeling of being in love.

Love the game for what it is —  a compelling game full of ups and downs, twists and turns, ecstasy, and frustration. Love is a unique life force energy that motivates us. Love is the greatest emotion that brings us joy. Without passion, it is just dedication. Without love, it can feel like an all-consuming work effort.

Here are some reasons to love the game of golf:

  • Golf is a fun game to play.
  • Golf is a game played alone or with others.
  • Golf is a common social bond among all who play the game.
  • Golf is a game played outdoors in the beauty of nature.
  • Golf is a game that challenges you against the golf course and others.
  • Golf is a game that moves you into an inner state of focus.
  • Golf is played in a peaceful setting that can relax you.
  • Golf reinforces confidence in you and in your abilities.
  • Golf teaches you about yourself.
  • Golf is a game that pushes you mentally and emotionally.
  • Golf is a game of honor.
  • Golf is a sport that can be played for life.
  • Playing golf “in the zone” is the same blissful feeling as when a person is “in love.”

What can you add to this list? What do you love about playing golf?

Let go of Self-Judgment

One of the mental keys for successful golf is to let go of self-judgment. When you think about how you are doing, or how to do it, you are judging yourself and your performance under the guise of helping your game. Any impulse to aggressively control your game will move you into these feelings of self-judgment.

When you judge yourself, you are likely to feel anxious, guilty, embarrassed, or angry. These feelings will ultimately sabotage your golf game, lower your self-esteem, and keep you from being successful.

Judgment is the comparison between how something seems and how we think it should be. We would like to believe that we could hit every golf shot perfectly. And when we don’t do that, we feel frustrated, embarrassed, and humiliated, and reject ourselves because we feel inadequate. And so, we pretend to be what we think we should be (the perfect golfer) by demeaning ourselves with words or physical actions of disgust. In other words, we pretend to be what we are not (perfect), because we are afraid someone else will notice that we are not what we pretend to be.

The way we judge ourselves is the strongest Judge there is. When we miss a shot in front of other people, we try to deny the mistake and take off the attention by covering it up with excuses and rationalizing why it happened. To be a champion golfer, you need to seek your own approval, not the approval of others.

To maintain our balance and composure it is necessary to look at the game of golf/life in a different perspective. We need to forgive ourselves for being human, for making mistakes. This is the answer to Judgment. It requires a change of attitude and a new belief system. Golf is management of imperfection. Each shot is a story. When it is over, you begin a new story. Instead of blaming yourself for your mistakes, learn from them so you won’t repeat them. When we are “in the zone” and playing at our peak performance level we are not learning—– just enjoying the experience.

Become a magician! Use your thoughts and words and pictures to create the life and golf game that you desire. Let go of judgments that sabotage your game and put you into an internally self-created prison. Give yourself permission to enjoy the game of golf with its ups and downs, with its perfect shots and imperfect shots, with its humiliating situations and its joyous moments! Remember that golf is a game where an inch can make the difference between total disaster and absolute perfection! See the round in its entirety. Don’t be trapped by a few mishits into judging your whole performance by them. Reinforce and enjoy the good shots.

Affirm your self-worth

Peak performing athletes rarely put themselves down. They talk to themselves positively about what they are attempting to create. They change any past negative messages that come up into positive empowering ones. This is a part of their mental training program. They repeat positive mental affirmations and training routines until they are wired into their brains, body and spirit and become a conditioned response.

You are your most important critic. Nothing is more critical than the opinion you have of yourself. What you say to yourself in your inner mind is the most important conversation you will ever have. You become confident by affirming yourself.

Keep doing your best. If you always do your best, there is no way the Judge within can find you guilty or blame you. When you give it your best effort, you learn to accept yourself. Practice, learn from your mistakes and look honestly at the results. This increases your awareness of Self.

Focus on the good that you want to create in your golf game and better results will come to you. This is the Universal Law of “like attracts like.” Be your own best coach. Encourage and treat yourself as well as you do the others in your foursome. Let go of all your unreal self-assessments in which you find yourself in any way inadequate that comes from never measuring up to being perfect. Accept and love yourself more than anyone ever loved you.

Golf is a game in which you must play your mistakes. Learn to forgive yourself for your imperfection of being human. Instead, congratulate yourself for what you did well during the round of golf. Gratitude is the answer to forgiveness. You probably made fewer mistakes than you thought.

Love yourself playing the game of golf more than you love the outcome. A change of heart changes everything.

Play “in the zone” With Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

Improve your golf game over the winter by listening to PMI self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s in the privacy of your own home. Order today at http://www.pmi4.com/cart

If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at  pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

 

CREATE THE 2023 GOLF GAME THAT YOU DESIRE

The New Year has begun and no matter where you live, now would be a grand time to do something different. The beginning of a new year brings the promise of change; the resolution that we can release something old and manifest something new. Begin the magical process of creating the golf game now that you have always dreamed of having.

I have enjoyed working with golfers for the past 30 years because they are so enthusiastic about improving their golf games and will do (or buy) anything that they think will lower their scores and handicaps.

Upgrade Your Mental Game 

The mental game of golf is about advance preparation of your mind-body-spirit so you will be calm, alert, confident, focused, and in control when you step on the first tee. When we have learned that positive thoughts create positive outcomes while negative thoughts create negative outcomes, we have learned the power of the mind, body, and spirit connection.

We all have individual golf swings, and we all have individual mental habits that keep us from playing at our peak performance level.

Do you still have excess baggage in the form of fear, anxiety and worry that you are carrying with you to the golf course? Until you let go of old beliefs that cause these emotions, your game will suffer.

As the cartoon character Pogo said, “We have found the enemy and he is us.” The more you know yourself, the happier you will be, and the better your golf game will be.

When you master something, you know how to do it without thinking about it. In golf we call it being in the zone. The most important thing you can ever learn in your life is to trust and allow. The more you tap into allowing (instead of controlling), the stronger your desires become and happen more often. What you desire is to feel free so you can enjoy playing instead of struggling to accomplish some goal.

Effective Goal Setting        

The new year is when most of us set goals for self-improvement. Within a few weeks those goals are no longer as important in our lives. The reason the new goals don’t work is because we tend to focus on the negative and what didn’t work. To accomplish a goal, you need to create positive mental habits that support the desired change.  If you have short term as well as long-term goals, they can help to cure anxiety and burn-out or “the poor me” (pity pot) syndrome. It is important to focus primarily on the short-term goals which will keep you motivated and move you toward your long-term goal.

Declare your “dream” goal of your ultimate best in the future so you know where you are headed. Then set a goal(s) to be accomplished daily that incorporate the following:

  1. You must want to achieve the short-term goal.
  2. You have a 50% chance of success or more of accomplishment.
  3. You must believe you can achieve the goal.
  4. The goal must be positive.
  5. It takes 30 days to form a habit. Challenge yourself to accomplish the short-term goal daily for a minimum of 30 days.
  6. Every day, recognize and write down when you were successful. Keeping track of your progress is important to learn about unconscious patterns of thought interfering with your success.
  7. If you skip a day, you need to begin again as you have broken the train of thought which creates the habitual pattern.

All your thoughts are stored in your subconscious mind. If negative thoughts are repeated over and over, they produce thought patterns, feelings and actions that are not helpful. If critical thoughts originated in childhood, and were reinforced over your lifetime without being changed, they will surface under emotional stress.

Do something different 

  1. Golfers like to win. Winning is tied into your self-worth. When you have an attachment to your score, it affects your self-worth. Are you sabotaging yourself with fear of failure to achieve your desired outcome?
  2. Feeling guilty about not being good enough is the disconnect from your authentic self. Thinking about feeling guilty takes you down the fear path. Is it worth continuing to hold on to regrets and suffer the negative emotions generated by it? Forgiveness sets you free from the past and from recreating similar experiences.
  3. What are you looking for? Fill yourself up with positive feelings of success. Visualize yourself as the golfer you have always dreamed of becoming.  Imagine this compelling vision daily for 30 days and you will have changed the habit of limiting fearful thoughts into personal enjoyment.
  4. Trust your intuition in making decisions. If something doesn’t feel right to you, trust your feelings. Intuition is your innate ability to know what to do without having to consciously think about it. Intuition is the language of your heart which is the true connection to your authentic self.
  5. Transform yourself by moving out of your comfort zone of self-doubt. You are the only thinker in your brain. Step out of your own way. Recognize your limiting thoughts and overcome them with positive, self-assuring beliefs about yourself and your abilities.
  6. To create space for what you truly desire, allow yourself to let go of what is no longer working for you. Create an uplifting attitude that good things are coming to you and more will come sometime in the next year.
  7. Connecting your mind, body, heart, and spirit is the formula for the grand possibility of a wonderful, abundant, healthy year to come.
  8. Give your golf game a fresh start by trusting that you have within you all you will ever require for your whole golf game. Write, direct and star in the movie of your life and golf game. Have fun with your golf game, your life, and yourself by creating 2023 as your best year ever.

If you are a typical golfer, you frequently take lessons so you will know what to practice. You spend time physically practicing your golf swing. You stretch and exercise your muscles for strength and flexibility. Do you also practice your mental skills? Consider practicing being in a confident, joyful mental state where you can produce peak results in your life and in your golf game.

Every day imagine your golf game where you feel in complete control. Imagine playing where it is easy for you to stay in the moment and focus on each shot. Where you can let go of missed shots and trust your swing. Where you can make up for missed greens with an accurate short game. Where your confidence soars with each shot that you create. When you putt you remain calm. Where you possess total confidence and remain composed in competition. When playing the last few holes your concentration intensifies and you finish strong. You congratulate yourself for playing up to your potential enjoying the feeling of success! This is the pleasure we are all seeking.

Create a new year of possibilities. Take the time to envision the golf game you desire, and the golfer that you aspire to be. What you think, you create. What you can conceive and believe…… you can achieve!

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

 If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at  pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

To train your brain to believe in yourself and in your abilities to play your best golf, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-empowering guided imagery self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s in the privacy of your own home during the off season. All eight different CDs/MP3s are available at www.pmi4.com/cart

 “THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.

 “THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq 

All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

 

 

 

 

DO YOU STILL NEED A GREAT 🎁 FOR THAT SPECIAL GOLFER ON YOUR LIST?

Imagine your golf game where you feel in complete control. Where it is easy for you to stay in the moment and focus easily on each shot. You can let go of missed shots and trust your swing. You can make up for missed greens with an accurate short game. Your confidence soars with each shot that you create. When you putt, you remain calm. You possess total confidence and remain composed in competition. Playing the last few holes, your concentration intensifies and you finish strong.

Whether you are a pro golfer, amateur golfer, junior golfer, or golf coach, now would be a good time to gain greater awareness of yourself and your golf game. Available on the Positive Mental Imagery website are the following mental tools for you, or to purchase as a Christmas gift for your favorite golfer.

  1. Learn how to relax, focus in the moment, and enhance your mental golf game by listening to eight different self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s, available at com/cart
  • Confident Putting for Lower Scores
  • Concentration for Consistent Golf
  • Release for Performance Anxiety
  • Fearless Golf
  • Confidence to Win Golf Tournaments
  • Progressive Relaxation of the Mind & Body
  • Master Your Short Game for Low Scores
  • Self-Hypnosis for Playing in the Zone

2. “THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.

 “THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle at https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq   All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

 

 

 

3.If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

4.Gift certificates for your special golf friend or relative are available on the Positive Mental Imagery website at bit.ly/3Y7b3tE

Happy Holidays and Warmest Wishes for the happiest and the most successful of New Year’s…from your Mental Golf Coach!

Joan King, BCH, NLP

Peak Performance Strategist

NGH Board Certified Sports Hypnotist

RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR GOLF DURING THE HOLIDAYS

There is a new spirit around this holiday season. It is the spirit of good will towards men and women. Everywhere there are lights bringing a new warm spirit around us uplifting our energy. Songs are being played reminiscent of past warm memories, opening our hearts. Now is the time to begin programming that same lightness and joy into your golf game, playing from your heart instead of your head.

This is a wonderful time of year. It is the season of love, peace, goodwill, and brotherliness. It is a time to celebrate all that is good and joyful.

Life is a choice, and you have the power to slow down and enjoy the season.  Oftentimes the heart and soul of the holidays get lost in the hustle and bustle of shopping, planning, and entertaining. In the same way you can lose the joy of playing golf by trying too hard to understand, analyze, and perfect your golf swing.

In most parts of the country, golfers have now turned to other interests including holiday celebrations.  Regardless of whether you are playing golf now, or not, the end of the year is a good time to reflect on what you did well during the past year and decide how you can improve for the upcoming year.  A good place to start the New Year is with a mental training program to improve your life and your golf game.

With the holiday season well underway you are probably experiencing a lot of extra hurried activity…. decorating, shopping, and socializing. The increased pace can cause additional stress on your mind and body.  And this is the time of year when most of us fall back into old habits of excess that could have long-term effects on our health.  Now is the time to train your brain and body for new empowering habits to avoid the guilt feelings of being out of control.

The mind is like a wild horse. If you try to control it, it will just get worse. If you let it be, it will settle down into its natural state of restfulness and calm. See this metamorphosis as it is in nature. The trees allow their leaves to fall so they can bring forth new ones in the spring for a new experience. Let go of overthinking, all the resistance, and allow the change to happen. It will renew your physical body with clean energy.

Relief from stress

When you close your eyes, you are not distracted by external happenings. Focus on your breathing and you won’t be thinking about anything else, and you won’t have any judgments or expectations about what might happen next.

Practice using relaxation techniques to balance your mind, body and spirit whenever you feel anxious or stressed. Practice now and by the time the golf season rolls around in the Spring you will have mastered the art of relaxing and centering within to perform at your best.

Take the time right now as you read this letter to inhale deeply through your diaphragm. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then exhale twice as long as you inhaled, just the way you do when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake.  If you feel any tension in any part of your body, focus your attention there and allow the tension to move out as you exhale. Take three deep breaths in this manner and then notice the calm inside your body. Notice how you are now focused within instead of on the outer world’s activities.

Stress Management 

People deal with stress in different ways. A recent study at UCLA suggests that women respond to stress with a production of brain chemicals to make and maintain friendships with other women. The hormone oxytocin is released and buffers the fight or flight response and encourages women to tend children and gather with other women instead.  This calming response does not occur in men. They appear to deal with stress more effectively through exercise or escaping into their office to solve the problem.

  • Walking the golf course, or some other kind of exercise program is a fantastic way to deal with stress. Exercise helps you sleep. When you are not fatigued, you deal with stress more effectively. If your golf course is closed for the winter, this would be a good time to walk the course, imagining playing each shot to start programming your career round.
  • Breathe deeply to relieve stress. When people feel anxious, they unconsciously hold their breath. Take a few moments during the day to take three full, slow breaths, let it out slowly to release any stressful feelings. This is a good time to practice breathing in your golf swing while indoors. Inhale on your (imaginary) backswing, pause, and exhale on the downswing. Do this every day until it becomes a habit. In the Spring you will notice the increased distance!
  • Have a positive outlook on life. This will give you extra energy. Having a positive mental attitude is having a good spiritual connection. See the good side of everything you do and everything that happens to you. See the bigger picture and don’t get ensconced in the “small stuff”.  Write down what you like about golf. Write down a description of the kind of golfer that you would like to be.
  • Golf and life and are meant to be enjoyed. Golf can be a way to relax if you let go of expectations of not being good enough. Enjoy everything that you are doing in the moment. Practice being in the NOW.
  • Giving gifts is a tradition during the holidays. A Spiritual Law says, “Giving and receiving are the same.”  When you give a gift and it is well received, you receive the gift of pleasure in return. To increase your self-esteem, begin to acknowledge compliments with a heartfelt “thank you” instead of thinking you don’t deserve it, or judging the gift or its giver. On the golf course, accepting compliments into your heart from your foursome will keep you in a positive frame of mind.
  • Physical tension is a result of mental stress. Choose what will bring you joy. Catch yourself when you are experiencing the anxiety producing “what ifs.” Stay in the moment by focusing on enjoying what you are doing. When you are experiencing indecision, take a deep breath and go to your heart center and decide what is best for you. It is easy to give so much that you are no longer giving or helping and are experiencing anxiety or worry. Have you noticed that you do this on the golf course also?
  • Your body language reflects your state of mind. Develop an awareness of how you carry yourself, especially when you’re feeling stressed. Change your posture to a straighter alignment. If you do it, even if you don’t feel like doing it, you will feel better. It’s like smiling. Sometimes you smile because you are happy and sometimes because you want to be happy. Your speaking rate and style can also affect your mood and other reactions to you.
  • Recognize stress in all facets of your life. Learn to take control of your body and your reaction to stress and anxiety. Decide to live your life with the emphasis on the importance of relaxation, fun and pleasure. The more you relax, the better you feel.
  • Share your life with others in a meaningful way. All the great research, all the religions, all the philosophies indicate this is the root of happiness.
  • Be grateful and give thanks for all your blessings.
  • Create a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! 

 

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances 

Learn how to relax, focus in the moment, and enhance your mental golf game by listening to eight different self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s in the privacy of your own home during the off season. Available at pmi4.com/cart

If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at  pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

 

 

Tools to Train Your Golf Brain Now for 2023

Imagine your golf game where you feel in complete control. Where it is easy for you to stay in the moment and focus easily on each shot. You can let go of missed shots and trust your swing. You can make up for missed greens with an accurate short game. Your confidence soars with each shot that you create. When you putt, you remain calm. You possess total confidence and remain composed in competition. Playing the last few holes, your concentration intensifies and you finish strong.

Whether you are a pro golfer, amateur golfer, junior golfer, or golf coach, now would be a good time to gain greater awareness of yourself and your golf game. Available on the Positive Mental Imagery website are the following mental tools for you, or to purchase as a Christmas gift for your favorite golfer.

  1. Learn how to relax, focus in the moment, and enhance your mental golf game by listening to eight different self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s, available at pmi4.com/cart
    • Confident Putting for Lower Scores
    • Concentration for Consistent Golf
    • Release for Performance Anxiety
    • Fearless Golf
    • Confidence to Win Golf Tournaments
    • Progressive Relaxation of the Mind & Body
    • Master Your Short Game for Low Scores
    • Self-Hypnosis for Playing in the Zone
  1. THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.

 “THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and your golf game is available on Amazon and Kindle at https://amzn.to/2MQzjfq   All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!

 

 

3.If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.

4.Gift certificates for your special golf friend or relative are available on the Positive Mental Imagery website at bit.ly/3Y7b3tE

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances

 

Self-Hypnosis for a Better Golf Game

Here in the northern hemisphere, and in many other countries, we have just celebrated Halloween. All Hallows’ Eve was known as Samhain to the ancient Celts—the death of the old year. It marked the end of the life of summer and the beginning of the darkness of winter.

Animals like black cats, bats and spiders symbolize Halloween. Figures such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, wizards, pumpkins, graveyards, cobwebs, and haunted houses are also symbols that represent Halloween.

What images symbolize your mental golf game? Are there sand bunkers, water hazards, tight fairways, woods, creeks, fast breaking greens, or players who are better than you? Or is your game symbolized by images of fun, companionship, sculptured fairways, challenging greens, beautiful outdoor weather, and a playful way to exercise and compete?

As the seasons change, with the leaves turning brilliant colors of red, gold and orange, we are reminded that there is a season for everything. If the trees hold on to their leaves in the fall, there would be no room for new growth in the spring. If they didn’t rest in the winter, they would be too tired to bud. What are you holding on to in your golf game that isn’t working for you?

Hypnosis for changing unproductive beliefs

Programming your mind with positive thoughts and images is the key to playing great golf. If you have neglected the mental aspect of your golf game, now in the off season is the time to develop a mental program that enhances your physical game. This is a time to write down the beliefs that did not serve you well this summer, and to create new ones.

We create our lives with our beliefs. Our poor golf games are still dominated by unproductive beliefs about ourselves learned in our childhood years up to the age of 7. These habitual programs were downloaded into our subconscious minds, and we continue our life script to fit into these patterns.

Hypnosis has proved to be the easiest and quickest way to program your subconscious mind for great performances. Hypnosis is a natural state of life. It is an altered state of awareness. In golf, it is known as “the zone state.” You have been in this trance state several times today. You may not have called it hypnosis. Anytime you move from an outward perception to an inner awareness, you enter a trance state. Anytime you go into your own world and imagination, you are going into a hypnotic trance. For example, when you were completely focused on what you were seeing or doing, and a loud noise startled you, you were in this altered state of awareness.

Your unconscious is running the show

The subconscious is the part of your mind that controls the physical movements of your golf swing, just as it has control of your breathing, heartbeat, and other internal organs. It tells your muscles how to do this by the patterns that you have given it. The subconscious does not judge. It cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined. It takes in the information literally and stores it. When you repeat patterns, it automatically develops a habit with the goal of making it a program. It stores and organizes memories, emotions, and programs. Over 95% of what we do, think, and say comes from old programming in our subconscious mind. Thus, the subconscious runs your life and old negative programs will sabotage your best intentions of playing your best if you do not reprogram them.

Reprogram your subconscious habitual patterns

  1. Repetition is the key to programming the subconscious. This is why you will see the same ads repeated continually on TV. It creates a program in your subconscious. You can create your own programs by affirming and visualizing often what you desire in your golf game. Emotions have an extraordinarily strong impact on the subconscious mind. Whenever you hit a successful shot that you want to repeat, anchor it into your subconscious by feeling the good emotion inside and with a physical action such as a fist pump.
  2. The subconscious mind does not recognize negatives. All affirmations and statements must be positive. When you say a negative, your mind visualizes the picture. If you say, “I’m not going to hit it in the water,” your subconscious mind doesn’t register the “not” and sees the ball going into the water, thus programming your result.
  3. The subconscious mind represses memories with unresolved negative emotions. The memories will get buried, yet the beliefs and feelings associated with them will still control your reactions. Is this why golfers often change putters? Or have the yips? And nothing changes?
  4. The subconscious is much more powerful than your computer. It takes in everything through your five senses and logs it into its vast filing system with a photocopy. When you criticize, judge, or blame yourself or others, it is recorded and can be triggered by a similar situation when you don’t want it to.
  5. The subconscious works on the principle of least effort. It follows the path of least resistance. Without purposeful direction from our conscious mind, it follows the easiest, usually more negative path of our engrained habits.
  6. The subconscious only functions NOW. This is apparent when you are in the “zone state” and are totally focused in the moment with complete confidence because there is no past or future thoughts interfering. When you rewrite your negative programs from the past, make sure they are what you want in the present. ex., “I AM calm, focused and ready to putt,” instead of I will, or I can.
  7. When you allow your subconscious to perform it can be a spiritual experience. Golfers “in the zone” describe themselves as being “out of mind & body.” It is the source of a higher aspect of yourself. Accessing the subconscious opens us up to higher levels of soul energy. When you are in this state, you are experiencing the ultimate energy of your creation — love for what you are doing and love for who you are.

Make a change to empower yourself 

As you know, golf is a metaphor for life. It can show you the life lessons you need to be aware of to create balance in your life. With this awareness you can train your brain to create programs that will bring you more enjoyment and lower scores. It will not happen without effort on your part. Here is a simple plan to do this.

  1. Desire. Do not limit yourself. Write down specifically what it is you want in your life/golf game. (Health, wealth, strength, flexibility, calmness, focus, consistency, etc.)
  2. Imagination. Create a movie in your mind by visualizing your success in each category by using your imagination. Instruct your brain to make it important by using affirmations, music, and imagery.
  3. Take Action. The Law of Attraction states that “like attracts like.” A good example of this is the Placebo Effect. When you believe something is helping you, your mind and body will create the result you desire. If you believe that something will not help you, or you fear changing, “what you resist persists.” When you act in the direction of your desire, do it with emotion — the language of the subconscious. Feel good about what you are planning to accomplish.
  4. Gratitude. To create the life/golf game that you desire means staying positive and feeling good about the process to keep your energy level up. Look for positive moments that you have during the day. At night before going to bed, write down several things in your life/golf game that you are grateful for. Do this every night adding new items. In the morning look at the list and you will begin your day with a grateful heart. Start the day in love, live the day in love, and end the day in love.

I have created eight self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s for your golf game empowerment in the areas of confidence, concentration, anxiety, relaxation, imagery, self-hypnosis, the short game, putting, and fearlessness. Listening to these repeatedly will create new positive programs in your subconscious as described above. They can be purchased online at www.pmi4.com/cart

Enjoy the period of Indian summer that is happening now where the days are dry and unseasonably warm, the skies are blue, clear, and cloudless, and the nights are chilly.

It’s a fun time to get out and play!

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Brain for Peak Performances!

Improve your golf game NOW by listening to PMI self-hypnosis CDs/Mp3s in the privacy of your own home. Order today at www.pmi4.com/cart

If you have a question, or need help with your mental game, email Joan at pmi4@bellsouth.net or phone 828.707.5478 for a free consultation to learn about mental golf coaching in person, or world-wide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve the success you desire.