The spring equinox this Saturday, March 20th signals it is time for rebirth of all life on our planet. It is a time for celebration. The equinox is when the daylight and nighttime hours are approximately of equal duration all over our planet.
With this balance of hours and new resurgence of energy we can follow its lead and balance our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual selves as nature does naturally.
Golf is a game we play for our own enjoyment. If we aren’t having fun spending a good amount of time outdoors playing a game, then we need to look inside ourselves to determine what the interference is.
What are the fears in your golf game?
When was the joy of learning the game replaced by being afraid?
If you don’t love the experience of playing golf, you are probably experiencing the opposite emotion which is fear. It is important to remember that the ego creates fear, and fear is one of our greatest illusions. Action based on fear is always going to lead you astray. Fear only has power as you give it power and think that it might be true. When you think of something fearful your physiology changes as your body produces a rush of adrenalin which is counterproductive to maintaining your arousal level.
Fear has to do with an inner state of your mind. A fear reflects how you view yourself and your ability to handle a situation on the golf course. When you are afraid you move away from what you want to create in your golf game. Generalized fears such as embarrassment, failure, success, inadequacy, making mistakes, rejection, or losing your self-esteem will pop up on the golf course if you have them in other areas of your life.
To release the fear of hitting a certain club, hitting over a water hole, or of missing a shot, develop the TRUST in yourself to handle any situation. And then accept the results to learn from if it wasn’t your best. If you love to play the game and enjoy every shot as an opportunity to create a good inner feeling, you will have discovered trust in yourself.
Develop TRUST by taking action to change your thoughts and beliefs.
- Believe in every club. Practice trusting your least favorite club by imagining it is your favorite club until you believe in it.
- Feel the fear and do it anyway. Develop confidence by hitting a bag of balls over the water hazard until you no longer fear it.
- Practice for confidence. Practice the sand shot you keep sculling over the green until you can access the timing and feel of the swing.
- Mentally rehearse what you want. Your unconscious brain does not know the difference between what is true and what is fantasy. Imagine yourself in the scenario you wish to create or the fear you choose to face and overcome. Use your senses of sight, hearing, and touch to make the images of your success more powerful.
We trust what is comfortable for us. Most people aren’t willing to move more than 10% outside of their comfort levels, and thus repeat the same behavior over and over.
Fear is at the root of most golfer perceived threats that trigger a mind- body defense mechanism. Fear defense systems vary individually. Some people are naturally more calm and relaxed under pressure and don’t let problems or frustration get to them. Others are more sensitive to stress and may become upset much more easily. Fear can come from anxiety about losing self-esteem by what others might think about you. Fear may also be imbedded after topping the ball. Fear of fear itself is natural, too.
Let go of all fear thoughts as they are just figments of your imagination. Choose instead to believe in the opposite. Know that you are the Master of your thoughts and experiences. You can choose whatever you wish; you have the power within your Being. The only things limiting you are your beliefs, judgments and fears.
Play “in the zone” with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances
Available to help you overcome the internal voices of fear and self-doubt that keep you from the success you desire is the Positive Mental Imagery CD “Fearless Golf” available on the website at www.pmi4.com/cart
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