Your Worst Enemy
Strangely enough, in the game of
golf, you are not playing against anyone but yourself and the golf course.
How another player plays the game has
absolutely nothing to do with how you
play your game. You are like a figure ice-skater, whose performance is uniquely
his or hers, and other skaters' performance is irrelevant, and certainly not a
reflection of how you play.
Likewise, in golf, you are mutually
"non-involved" in each other's game. You may imitate another player's
air of self-confidence or positive attitude, but you cannot play his or her
game, except your own. In other words, you must play your golf your own way
because nobody knows you better than yourself. Only you can determine your own
strength and weakness; only you can optimize the game based on your own past
experience, style of play, attitude, physical, mental, and psychological
makeup, touch, and finesse. Only you, and nobody else, know the golf basics you
are consummate with, the golf basics you have mastered, and the golf basics
which can deliver the performance you have aimed for.
Just be yourself at all times, and
play your own game -- nobody else's but
yours.
How do you play your own golf?
- You play it your own way. Do not play like Tiger Woods, or anyone else for that matter.
- You play at your own pace, without rushing, in spite of the other fast players around you.
- You know "when" to be aggressive and "when" to lay up, using a more conservative approach.
- You do not attempt shots you have never practiced, or those with unpredictable results for you, just because others are playing them. Work with your own golf basics.
- You hit the ball only when you are focused at that VERY moment, not while you are being distracted.
- You do not compare yourself to other players, and you are not influenced or intimidated by other players.
- You plan your strategy and do not change horses in mid-stream. More importantly, you must accept full responsibility for your choice of strategies, whatever they are, and whatever the outcome may be.
- You just play without expectations, thereby removing any undue stress from you. Just play from your heart and mind with the golf basics you are comfortable with, and the golf basics you have mastered to date.
Focusing on the Present
Learn to focus on the present by
focusing on a specific object for 30 seconds, without thinking about anything
else. Practice this simple concentration exercise from one object to another
for an extended time. Meditation helps your concentration. Learn some meditation techniques to benefit not
only your golf concentration but also your health. This practice will enhance
you golf basics of focusing on the present moment.
Get your body and mind attuned to the
PRESENT moment to the oblivion of the past and the future. This is one of the
fundamental golf basics you must acquire for golfing success. Learn TAO wisdom that focuses on the present
with no expectations of the future.
A focused body and mind enable your
eyes to signal you where the ball needs to go. Your eyes should never focus on
something or somewhere you want to avoid.
How do you apply your present
concentration to the shot at hand?
You evaluate your shot based on the
present physical and psychological climate and environment: the lie, the wind,
the distance, your best chance of success, your level of self-confidence.
- You decide on the type of shot.
- You step up to the ball with self-confidence and purposeful mindset.
- You decide on the type of shot.
- You step up to the ball with self-confidence and purposeful mindset.
- You accept the outcome of your shot, whatever that may be.
- You commit fully to the shot.
The Patience of Job
Patience is confidence
waiting, not confused indecision. Your mind focuses on the things you can
control, without forcing on things to happen, while you concentrate on the
present shot at hand.
How do you acquire
your patience?
You take a deep
breath, wherever and whenever necessary:
- Inhale consciously.
- Hold your breath for 10 seconds.
- Exhale slowly with your mouth seemingly ope.
- Say to yourself: “I am very confident and I am now in control.”
You focus your
awareness on yourself, such as on your hands and feet by conjuring up a mental
picture.
You apply positive
self-talk to boost up your self-confidence: use words like “hanging in there”
when things are going askew.
Stephen Lau
The
Complete TAO TE CHING in Plain English
There are many translations and
interpretations of Lao Tzu’s
ancient classic “Tao Te Ching.” Given
that the Chinese language is often capable of multiple meanings, following the
exact Chinese translation may make the flow of the language uneven and even difficult to understand.
The
book contains not only the complete 81 chapters of Lao Tzu’s immortal classic
but also the author’s own interpretations of the essentials of TAO wisdom (which is the wisdom of Lao Tzu) for
easier intuition and assimilation.
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