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The golf lesson that changed me
I used to think golf was pure chaos.
Picture this: my dad and I on a Saturday morning, feeling confident after I nailed my last shot.
I’d line up, take my stance, and swing with complete certainty.
Straight into the trees.
I’d slam my club into the mud with clenched teeth.
But sometimes I’d approach the same shot frustrated, muttering under my breath, convinced I was rubbish…
And then ‘ping’, perfect chip shot onto the green.
This made no sense for years.
What I later realised
My mood had no impact on my performance.
So many get this backwards.
When confident, I was trying too hard to maintain that feeling. When frustrated, I’d stop trying to control my mental state and just play (often better).
I’m not saying we need to feel frustrated to do better. We just need to stop relying on feeling a certain way to do well.
The difference wasn’t how I felt. It was how much I was fighting with my thoughts.
This insight shifted how I approached everything: writing, relationships, creative projects, and daily stress.
