Archived Newsletters - CHANGE YOUR MINDSET FOR PEAK GOLF PERFORMANCES :
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Newsletter November 2024
Do you really love to play golf? Does playing golf bring you joy every time you play? Our emotional state dictates how we feel. The lowest energy level of emotions that upset us are anger, fear, frustration, etc. The highest energy level of feeling good is love, joy, kindness, care, compassion, etc. The state for accessing your highest level of performance is when you are calm, relaxed, focused, and having fun.
Most golfers believe that when they play well, they will be happy. When they aren't playing well, they experience anger and frustration. When golfers switch to overthinking and second-guessing mechanics, it can produce even worse results. To be successful requires a paradigm shift in the thoughts that cause your emotions. It is important to remain in the mindset of loving the experience of playing golf no matter the results. Albert Schweitzer explained it simply as:
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
How do you change your stressful state?
We become stressed when our performance doesn't meet our expectations... and we mismanage our emotional reaction.
To change your emotional state, reframe the situation that upsets you. There is always another way of looking at a situation... and reacting to it.
To change your state of mind and body when things don't go your way, smile at adversity and be surprised rather than angry that it didn't happen the way you expected. The more you repeat changing your mental state in this way the easier it will become to access and stay "in the zone."
Be Patient to Eliminate Mistakes and Score Lower
We live in the 21st century where we have instant gratification from using technology that immediately gives us what we want. Here are some examples.
- We don't have to get up to change a TV channel. The remote control does it for us instantly from a distance.
- If we don't like the TV channel, we can surf through hundreds of programs in seconds.
- Internet surfers demand shorter and shorter blogs to read.
- When we don't get the results we want on the computer, we immediately try something else.
- We use faxes, email, and texting for instant communication.
Gratification is the emotional pleasure reaction to fulfilling a desire. Be aware if you have behavior to instantly want things to happen so it doesn't carry over to the golf course. Seeking this gratification on the golf course can lead to rushing through preparation to hit a shot. Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
Successful behavior off the course can be unproductive behavior on the golf course. For example, the Type A person who loves action and is generally in a hurry to make decisions needs to slow down on course and take the time to relax and make good decisions ( https://cutt.ly/VeJsbfKS) The good news is that we can change our behavior anytime we are aware of what we are doing.
Emotions, like your thoughts, are a motivator of behavior. When you are emotionally bothered on the golf course, be aware of your feelings and take action to change them for your benefit. The more you do this, and create a neural pattern, your brain will act automatically.
Here are some opportunities on the golf course when you need to have self-control by using your mental skill of patience:
- When you are ready to hit the ball and are distracted by noise. Back off from the ball and go through your pre-shot routine again.
- When there is a slow player in your foursome. Do not speed up your preparation to make up for the delay by the slow player. Maintain your personal pace of play.
- When your group is a hole behind the group ahead, play "ready golf" until you catch up.
- When you miss a six-footer for par and have a short putt coming back, remember that every putt counts the same and requires the same amount of time to execute.
- When you have "lost your swing" during the round. Have the patience to regain your tempo until it comes back.
- When distracted by someone moving in your peripheral vision, don't let your ego tell you it doesn't matter. Wait until they have stopped moving and begin your pre-shot routine again.
Play "in the zone" with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Brain for Peak Performances
To train your brain to reduce tension and relax mentally and physically, listen to the PMI "Progressive Relaxation of the Mind & Body" CD/MP3 available at www.pmi4.com/cart as well as seven other self-empowering guided imagery self-hypnosis CDs/MP3s in the privacy of your own home.
One-on-one coaching: Call +1-828.707.5478 or contact Joan by email pmi4@bellsouth.net for a free consultation to learn about mental golf in person, or worldwide by phone. Learn what is missing in your game so you can achieve your peak performances.
Please share this monthly mental instruction newsletter if it has been helpful to you. Forward it to your friends so they can have more fun playing the game of golf while lowering their scores. Link to www.pmi4.com to download previous PMI mental golf newsletters from 1999-2024 on the Archived Newsletter page https://cutt.ly/kwMY2jXt
To unsubscribe or change info: If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, or if you want to change the address to which it is sent, please reply with "unsubscribe" or the details to "change subscription" to pmi4@bellsouth.net
"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 how to access the zone in competition. It is a player's guide for developing your true inner self by returning to the joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.
This guidebook for transforming your life and golf game is available at https://amzn.to/3jEMVuv All royalties will be donated to junior golf.
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