When I mention the word “meditation,” many people immediately picture a man in orange clothes, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed. While this image is accurate in some places, meditation has come a long way from its religious roots.
In Western culture, there’s a growing acceptance of meditation, often called “vipassana meditation” or “mindfulness meditation.”
But what if you’re just a golfer? That’s what we’re going to talk about in this post. I want to share my personal experience with golf and meditation, highlight the benefits, and offer a simple guide to help you get started on your own meditation journey.
How are Meditation and Golf Related
To get a grip on the connection between golf and meditation, let’s break down what “meditation” really means. I’m going to keep it simple and use the term “mindfulness,” which might resonate better with those who are new to the concept.
So, mindfulness is basically a practice that helps you become best buddies with your own mind and teaches you how to handle those swirling thoughts and emotions in your everyday life.
In a nutshell, it’s like the art of “tuning in” to the present moment. You learn to step back from your thoughts, and this superpower brings you more happiness, serenity, and focus. Instead of being tangled up in your thoughts and emotions, you become the calm captain of the ship, navigating through them with ease.
Well, golf is one of those sports where your mind gets quite the workout. You spend around 30 minutes actually hitting golf shots, but the other 3.5 hours are a mental gymnastics show either chatting with your buddies or getting lost in your own thoughts.
For many, that head time can be pretty counterproductive. Instead of enjoying the game, they end up obsessing over every possible thing that could go wrong, and it messes up their score. That’s what I like to call the “Fear of Playing Good (FOPG).”
So, how do you cure these destructive thoughts? It’s all about playing golf one moment at a time. You’ve probably heard this a million times, but have you truly given it a shot?
If I ask you to sit in silence for just 2 minutes. Could you do it peacefully, taking in the sounds, smells, and sensations of every moment? Or would your mind start racing with thoughts of the past and future, along with all your life’s problems and to-dos?
Mindfulness is the key to learning how to truly live “in the moment.” Just like you need hours and hours of practice to master your golf swing, you’ve got to put in the time to learn how to stay present in the game.
How Can Our Minds Change
You might be thinking, “Okay, golf and mindfulness are connected, but what’s the real deal with consistent mindfulness practice? What does it do for you?”
Being aware of the present moment can improve your golf game, regardless of your ability. Hear from this high handicapper golfer how he applies his mindfulness practice on the course:
I can’t give you a scientific breakdown, but I can definitely share my personal journey. About two years ago, I was in a place where my golf game wasn’t terrible, but my thoughts were all over the place, both on and off the course.
Fast forward to today, it’s been a year and a half since that pivotal moment. I’ve woken up nearly every single day to practice mindfulness. And you know what? Here’s what I’ve noticed, both on and off the golf course:
Golf doesn’t get into my head. Before I started this mindfulness practice, I was constantly fixated on golf, to the point where I couldn’t distinguish it from who I was. And when there was a tournament on the horizon, it got even worse.
But fast forward to today, and golf rarely bothers me. I can actually enjoy my meals without being haunted by golf-related thoughts. I’ve learned to appreciate the journey of becoming a better golfer without letting it consume my life.
My golf rounds used to be like wild roller-coaster rides before I started my daily mindfulness practice. But now, things have taken a turn for the better. I’ve learned not to get tangled up in my thoughts and started playing what some might call “boring golf.” I don’t always have a stellar game, but when I’m in the zone, I’ve stopped sabotaging myself, and I no longer fear posting good scores.
I stopped dreading slumps: After sticking with mindfulness for a while, I realized we end up in slumps because we keep telling ourselves that we’re in one. But with mindfulness, we learn to break free from these self-sabotaging stories we keep on replaying.
More productive practice sessions: My practice sessions used to be messy. But now, when things aren’t clicking in my swing, I’ve adopted a different approach. I take a mindful breath, step back, and really dig into what’s happening.
Sometimes, I even take a breather for about 15 minutes to let things cool down.
My competitors don’t get to me anymore: I used to let other golfers mess with my head all the time. If someone dared to mention that I was having a good round, it would immediately get under my skin, and suddenly, I wasn’t having a good round anymore. Even innocent comments like “knock it in” would send my mind into a whirlwind, making me question if they really meant it and distracting me from my shot.
But now, I’ve developed the superpower to tune out those distractions. I still hear my playing partners, sure, but their words don’t rattle me anymore. I can listen without letting their remarks mess with my game.
Final Thoughts
Beginning a mindfulness practice isn’t a cakewalk, as I’ve shared from my own experience. It took me a good few months of consistent effort before it finally became a part of my routine. From giving you a calm interior to bettering your game, meditation is a practice you must opt for.
And trust me, once you get started with this mindfulness, it just keeps getting better and better. So, make sure you give it a shot.
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