You cannot just blindly follow the advice of the moment or latest trend. It is about discovering what makes you tick.
Without doubt, it would have been the greatest of all sporting achievements if Tom Watson had made a par four up the last at Turnberry to win his sixth British Open.
A 59-year-old man winning The Open just months after having a new hip! Who would have ever thought that this could possibly ever be a reality?
The way that Watson carried himself both during and after the tournament was a joy to behold. A throwback to a bygone age - no hype, no fuss, no fancy trousers - just a supremely talented man who still believed that it was possible to win against incredible odds. He truly is a credit to the game of golf. His week at The Open will inspire millions.
How fortunate we are to play a game that we can keep playing to such a good standard well into what used to be thought of as retirement age.
Watson has always been an example of someone who has known what is right for him. He goes about his business trusting in his method of swinging and his method of thinking.
The way that Watson carried himself both during and after the tournament was a joy to behold. A throwback to a bygone age.
In the work I do, it becomes clearer and clearer each day that it is up to each individual to find what is best for him or her. You cannot just blindly follow the advice of the moment or latest trend. It is about discovering what makes you tick.
In the world of Mind Coaching, few things get me more angry than the pop psych cure all culture of Being Positive.
Just talk to yourself in a positive way, see the ball going to the target, be a winner trill the gurus. This does not work for everyone. To just try to be positive for some people can actually make things much worse.
It's going to go in, it's going to go in....oh my goodness it didn't, can often give rise to a really big crash.
I am not saying for one minute that being positive is the WRONG strategy, for some people it can be life changing BUT it is not for everyone.
In her groundbreaking book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking Dr Julie Norem, a Professor of Psychology in the USA argues that a degree of pessimistic thinking CAN for some people actually be beneficial.
A great question is to ask yourself is what is the best that can happen?
I vividly remember a talk given by World Cup winning coach, Sir Clive Woodward, who said that a cornerstone of the preparation for the England team was to look at what they would do in the worst case game scenario. Even to the extent of a plan for if two men got sent off in a game. A negative way of looking at things perhaps but this way of thinking does seem to have its place.
The banking world was full of unbridled positivity until just a short time ago. Now it seems that a healthy dose of SOME pessimism would have helped us all to avert this credit fiasco that is bringing untold misery to many families across the world.
How does this apply to you and you golf? I would say you need to consider your own style of thinking and what will work best for you.
A great question is to ask yourself is what is the best that can happen? And then follow it up with what is the worst that can happen? When you can answer BOTH of those questions and deal with either outcome then your mind tends to quieten down and allows you to get on with the task at hand.
Let the gurus keep preaching 'The Secret' while you become aware that it is all about finding 'Your Secret' which may be totally positive or it may just be balanced with just the right amount of negativity. Those who are not afraid to lose are not afraid to win!
Need help with your mental game? Get to the root of your issues and put the FUN back into your game - and watch results follow.
For more information and to contact Karl Morris see golf-brain.com
12 August, 2009 | By Dr Karl Morris