NWO Golf Links November 2016

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To understand the relationship
between golf and meditation,
we must first become clear
what “meditation” is. To
simplify things, meditation is
“mindfulness.” Mindfulness
allows you to get more
acquainted with your mind,
and learn to deal with thoughts
and emotions in everyday life.
In essence, it is the art of
“becoming aware” in the
given moment.
Awareness helps to separate
thoughts from the emotion,
which allows for increased
happiness, peace, and focus.
Instead of being a victim of
your thoughts and emotions,
you become more aware and
at peace with them.
As the seasons change and as
avid golfers find themselves
indoors more than outside
on the course in northern
climates, it’s an excellent time
to develop habits that will
benefit your golf game without
the use of a golf club or balls.
It might be as simple as
adopting a regular practice of
mindful meditation.
Golfers of all levels can shoot
a very low score one day and
the next experience a round
many strokes higher.
What is the difference?
Have you ever heard of people
being in a slump? What does
that actually mean?
After practicing mindfulness,
you will begin to realize that a
“slump” is ultimately a fiction
of the mind. The reason we
get into slumps is because we
continually tell ourselves that
we are in them. Mindfulness
allows us to escape these stories
we tell ourselves over and over.
Is everything we say our
reality?
You can tell yourself that you
are not in a slump, but your
mind still hears the word
slump. Releasing all negative
thoughts and being fully
present with each golf swing
will allow you to fully focus
on each shot.
Instead of saying “I’m not
going to hit my drive into the
trees”, you state:
“My drive will go straight
down the middle.”
You visualize a line from the
ball to the spot in the fairway,
where you expect it to land.
Take a deep breath and allow
your swing to be relaxed
and calm. It will still have
speed and intensity, because
your arms and legs directing
the swing are not filled with
negative tension, it will flow
much more freely.
Want to know how to get
started?
Youcanseekout aprofessional
sports psychologist or give it
a try on your own with sites
such as these:
What action you ultimately
decide to take and no
matter your skill level, being
“mindful” in the present
moment will have a dramatic
effect on your golf game.
Golf and Meditation:
HowAre They Related?
By Sandy Earl
It might be as simple as
adopting a regular practice of
mindful meditation.
NWO Golf Links