As a Personal Transformation Coach, I work with folks on retraining their minds so that their minds SERVE them.
As a Mental Toughness Trainer, I do a lot of work with golfers on reprogramming the mind so that it serves to access deeper levels of athleticism and excellence and mastery.
Today I want to address one very specific moment that is SO critical to success in the game of golf. It’s the moment when the players decide what shot to play.
The operational word in that sentence, of course, is DECIDES. But golfers, even at the highest levels, often do not decide on the shot they are going to execute. Instead, they kind of, sort of get, like, an idea of what, you know, might be a good play here, maybe.
There’s no more powerful state for a human to be in when performing than the ALL IN! state – or the DECIDED state. Knowing. Doubtless. And all states are simply a choice away. We choose the state from which we operate. (That rhymes. That’s catchy.) So when playing golf, when deciding what shot to play, DECIDE. Get infinitely committed. Don’t “try”. Don’t “hope”. Decide!
The skeptic might ask, “Well how in the heck can you just “decide” where the ball’s gonna go?! There are so many variables that are out of your control, like wind and where the ball lands and divots, and your swing, and blah blah blah…”
And the answer is: “How could you possibly “decide” that you’re going to successfully drive your car to the golf course?! There are SOOO many variables out of your control like traffic, all the decisions other drivers make, accidents, carjackings, road rage incidents, alien abductions…”
The point is, we are capable of existing in the decision state regardless of the fact that there are variables beyond our control that could easily influence the outcome. State doesn’t depend on anything external!
And here’s one tidbit that’ll help you, the golfer, get into that decision state when choosing how to play each shot. Ask yourself the question, “What’s the shot I KNOW I got?”
Play the shot that is the easiest to fall in love with. The shot that you know you could execute 8 out of 10 times. The one that takes the least effort to feel confident about. There are occasions in which the situation requires you to take risks, yes. But most of the time, that’s not the case. So barring that, ask yourself, “What’s the shot I KNOW I got?” And play that one.
Create miracles!