Play your best golf in 2021 (part two) – the art of looking ahead

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You don't have to read this to have a good golf year in 2021. I mean … it's not rocket science. Stay fit, focus on enjoying your game and keep your wedges sharp, and you'll have your share of positive moments on the links.

But chances are you are reading these words because in the heart of your heart you want a little more out of your game in the coming season. There is a level of play within your reach that has somehow been out of reach … and you want to grab it … now.

So here's the most important thing: do the exercise below and you'll add a primary ingredient to the golf cake you want to bake the most.

But first … let's reconnect with part one of this article. It discussed how each of us is guided through life by a personal story – a subconscious script full of memories from your past – and suggested managing your memories in a way that purposefully highlights your best moments. If you haven't read part one I recommend you do it here as it uses your golf history in such a way that you can get the most out of what follows.

And when you are ready, we move into the future by focusing on the conscious mind – in other words, let's look at the importance of what you think and how you think it in relation to achieving of goals.

The left and right hemispheres of the brain

Basically we think our thoughts in two ways; analytical or imaginative. You may have heard the terms left brain and right brain before … but the essential idea is this: we can think in a logical, analytical way full of rational arguments about why something is right or why something is not right (the left hemisphere) , or, we can think in ways that are intuitive, imaginative, and deeply connected to emotion (the right hemisphere).

Here's what an avid golfer should know importantly: Traditional goal setting is primarily an analytic activity. We logically choose a goal and then plan a path to achieve it. It's good, but it's not great, because it doesn't produce the passion and persistence needed to create a groundbreaking performance on a personal level. What I've found more powerful for my clients is a goal-setting process that's mostly about imagination.

Note: I've usually used the word in the previous section twice because I want to underline this truth – we think analytically and imaginatively at the same time. I am not telling you to ignore or throw away logic and take a flight of fantasy. I say this: To get the most out of goal setting, place most of your mental effort on the intuitive, imaginative, creative side of the equation.

Here's an example

Perhaps an everyday example will be instructive here. Let's say you're driving home one night, and the idea of ​​pizza for dinner comes to mind. You consider your options and opt for vegetarian toppings over meat lovers, as your partner prefers the former, and you're fine with both. The process only takes a few seconds, and as you weigh your options rationally, your mind conjures up images. But the mental images will be fleeting, and you will not immerse yourself in them. Ultimately, if there is not enough feeling in your thinking, you will not call home to make the suggestion and your attention will quickly shift to another topic. At such times, you use both your left brain and your right brain, but the weight of your mental energy is usually on the logical left brain side.

But what if you were to put most of your energy into imaginative thinking and immerse yourself in the images that unfold on the screen of your mind? What if you pull into a parking lot and lock your car, close your eyes and imagine you're home and reach out to open the lid of a still warm pizza box? And what if, in your mind, you separate a slice, take a closer look and bring it to your mouth … pause to enjoy the fragrance? And what if your mental images were so vivid that you could feel the heat of the crust in your hand … and as you taste that first bite … well … you know what pizza bliss tastes like, right? Now that inner experience would feel different, wouldn't it?

In the last example, you devote most of your mental energy to imaginative thinking. And the more you create a sensory experience in your mind's eye – as if it were actually happening – the more likely you are to call home tonight with a strong recommendation for pizza.

Going Beyond Normal Goal Setting

You see … what you think rationally affects what you do, but what you vividly envision has a strong influence on what you do. And that is why I am not helping you to set a goal in the traditional sense of the word. Setting goals regularly isn't intense enough to get you where you want to go.

Plus, you probably already know how to set SMART goals. There is nothing wrong with setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. They are common sense… and, in my experience, are great for managing frontline workers in a business context. However, to fulfill your golfing potential, you must lean on your right hemisphere. Just as you have to be creative to get up and down from a tricky lie, you have to use your imagination creatively – on yourself – if you want to be the best golfer you can be.

Here you might note that I have yet to ask you to set your specific goal or targets for 2021. And you may be wondering … how can I imagine a goal that I have yet to set?

Well … good question. And here is the answer. I don't want you to start this process with analytical thinking; I want you to end there.

You see … if you start with left-brain logic, your ego will want to work its way into the process. Chances are that you are doing yourself short for fear of failure, or that you are getting carried away by a grandiose idea of ​​who you "should" be. to be. After decades of coaching clients, I have come to trust that imaginative, intuitive thinking will always produce a more truthful, more meaningful picture of what you can achieve.

So let's set your primary goal for 2021 by relaxing, letting your thoughts wander imaginatively into the future, and discovering what your subconscious mind intuitively knows is possible for you. Just as you make more putts when you instinctively trust your line, and you don't think too much about the required hit, I invite you to find a quiet, uninterrupted space and let your mind go where the questions lead .

Ok … enough explanation … time for creative visualization.

Step Three (continued from previous article)

Start by taking a few minutes to relax your mind and body. Inhale slowly … and exhale completely. Consciously relax the muscles in your shoulders while taking a deep breath.
When you feel comfortable and comfortable, close your eyes and let your thoughts move forward to the future … to a specific moment in time … an upcoming event / tournament / round that will be especially will be important to you …
Picture yourself playing a hole from tee to green as if you saw yourself in a YouTube video. It can be the first hole, the last hole, or a hole in between. What's important is this … ask your imagination to show you how to play the wave of your dreams.
Make a mental note of what you see. Pay attention to your body language, gestures, facial expressions. Watch how you go through your pre-shot routine, your setup, and your swing. Watch how you react to every shot and hit.
Watch as long as you need to see yourself walking off the green with the hole completed.
Now rewind to the very beginning of the hole and this time step into the picture and live it as if it were happening now.
Where does your attention go during your pre-shot routine?
Where does your attention go during your execution?
Where does your attention go during your reaction after the recording?
Notice how it feels to do what you are doing right now.
Finally, while your mind is still connected to these images, ask yourself this question:

– What is my goal for 2021?

Open your eyes, pick up a pen, write down your goal, and make a logical plan to get there.

Whether your goal is external (scorecord / handicap / tournament win) or internal (state of mind), or both, the key is trust. Deep down you know that it is your heart's desire, and you also know that, with 100% dedication, it is possible to achieve something.

Step Four

Repeat step three daily.

Mental strength is comparable to physical strength. If you were to hire a world-class trainer and he / she designed the perfect fitness program, you wouldn't do the workout once and never go back. You know you have to pay a price today to achieve something meaningful on the go. And the price, on the mental side of the game, is time and attention.

You don't have to sit cross-legged, light candles and put yourself in a trance for an hour. But you do have to take a few minutes – regularly – and imagine yourself living in the wave of your dreams. It's a small investment because once you're comfortable with the process, step three takes less than five minutes. Still, it can make a groundbreaking return.

Let me conclude with the obvious: As with anything worthwhile in life, turning your golf ambitions into reality is not easy or inevitable. And getting one thing right isn't enough in and of itself to guarantee success. It's really similar to baking. You have to add all the right ingredients, in the right amount, at the right time … and you have to set the oven to the right temperature and time. It's part science and part art. And with that said, all I can promise is this – commit to practicing the process I've outlined, and you can be absolutely sure you've added some quality carrot to your carrot cake.

The Best

Kent