Principles of Golf, Competition, and Life

I have been writing a lot lately about three basic principles that govern how life works. These principles are a description or metaphor for how we as humans function in the world. They can be "applied" or looked at in the context of anything because like gravity they are just true for everyone. When people understand how it works, life gets pretty easy. Flow states become an everyday occurrence. People's bodies relax; regardless of life circumstances. 

A friend of mine was telling me about a book he loves and reads once or twice a year. "The Three Principles of Outstanding Golf: How a Golfer's Mind Really Works" by Sam Jarman. My friend finds that by reminding himself of these principles, he creates an effortless flow state while golfing (hint: you can experience this at any time not only during a golf game) and so improves his game and his enjoyment of the game. 

The heart of this book and of this understanding is that life happens from the inside out. We use the creative energy of Thought to make sense of our world perceptually, to make meaning out of what we see around us, to think our identities into being, and to imagine and create new innovations. There is an energy behind all life enlivening us and everything else, called Mind. And a third flavour of energy allows for our Consciousness. Our ability to be aware of it all. 

Putting these three principles together is our experience of life. 

Mind + Consciousness + Thought = Experience. 

Put another way Mind + Consciousness + New Thought = New Experience 

And yet another way Mind + Consciousness + Slower Thought = Flow Experience 

I am fond of trying new ideas out in real life to see if they hold true or what my experience of them will be. So, I did an experiment. As many of you know, I compete in Olympic weightlifting. If awareness of how these aspects of life work together can improve one's golf game, surely, I could do the same with my upcoming competition. Oh Wow! And how it really worked!! 

I realized the only reason I (or anyone) would feel pressure or stress is because I was thinking thoughts related to pressure in performance. Humans (I'm a human!) live in the feelings of our thoughts. I looked at slowing down and how that would affect my feeling and experience.

In slowing down internally, my thoughts also slowed. I didn't feel the need to add pressure. I had focus and I had excitement going for me. At the competition, I was joking around and very relaxed as we all warmed up for our session. I could see the other competitors getting faster and faster and more and more worried or stressed as their time to compete came closer. 

When my time came to do my lifts, I was so relaxed that I missed the first one of three allowed attempts in the snatch. lol. ok. I get two more tries. I decided to think about some things that generally I feel angry about to generate a bit of adrenaline. Then I went out for my second lift. I absolutely slammed it up overhead so strongly my shoulder felt surprised at the speed! It was a bit too light now. By the third attempt, I had the Thought/relaxation mixture just about right because I went out and got a maximum snatch with good form. 

I then went on that day to nail three excellent attempts in the clean and jerk. I finished the day with a 5 for 6 record, meaning I only missed one of my allowed attempts. An optimum fun performance at competition for anyone! 

Whether you play golf or any sport, slowing your internal speed will slow your thinking and allow for a flow experience. Depending on the activity or game you may need a little bit more or less thinking for an outstanding performance. Hint: This also holds true for anything you may be up to in your day. 

With love, 

Sara Joy