With the 116th U.S. Open getting underway at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania and the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games starting in just 49 days, we’re going to be thrilled by the spectacle of the world’s elite competing for their place in history.
Given this backdrop to the weekend and the summer of 2016, I wonder if you’ve ever felt you were meant for something better, or are capable of reaching greater heights in your golf game and indeed, in your life?
It’s an interesting question and if you’re honest about it, you will notice there’s a part of you which thinks “Yes” and you do what you can to be better and continually improve – and there is a part of you which says “No” and is comfortable with things the way things are and/or doesn’t really believe you can be better than you’re demonstrating right now.
You’ll notice too that on some days the “Yes” is stronger and you work towards self-improvement and on other days the “No” takes over and you resist change and inner effort.
What if we turned down your thoughts altogether, especially the thoughts that undermine and sabotage your best efforts? Would you agree that this could free you from past constraints, negative assumptions and bad habits? Would you also agree that with your mind more like a clean slate, you could decide which thoughts serve you and which mental images can help create the YOU that you were destined to be?
It’s my belief that golf is meant to be more than just a game; it’s a path to mastery, a journey towards self-improvement and a mirror which reflects our true selves back to us. I encourage you to embrace your game as your greatest teacher, but I also believe this can only happen if you commit to self-observation, self-improvement and ‘deep practice’ techniques like meditation, so that you’re learning about yourself as well as learning ever more about the technical aspects of swinging a golf club.
Enjoy the U.S. Open and if you’re heading to the course this weekend, remember to play golf one breath at a time, one shot at a time and one hole at a time.
P.S. Congratulations to my student E.A. from Oxfordshire, who’s just informed me that he won the Spalding Cup yesterday! I’ll share his chi-performance GOLF practice and play routine with you soon!
