Making the Most of Your Mind 2012
You know some days when you step out onto the course it just doesn’t go quite as you would have liked. Why is that? What makes that day different to the last time when every shot connected like you expected, every swing was perfect and you finished having played to your very best. Barry Young, MD of Internet Golf Store and PGA Pro, has been seeking professional advice from Nikki Bartlett, NLP Trainer and expert performance coach from Zest Learning, to get some answers. Nikki argues that it’s all in the mind. “The mind and body are intrinsically linked. Mental preparation is just as important, if not more, than physical ability. Think about top athletes, they all train roughly the same amount of time so what is it that creates the winner? Mentally preparing yourself is critical to your success”.
How can you get yourself mentally prepared? Nikki says “there are a variety of ways to get yourself mentally prepared; essentially it’s about aligning your thoughts, feelings and actions to create total congruence in body and mind”. Below is one of the techniques used by Nikki when helping Barry with preparation for his game:
1. Have a clear outcome. Be absolutely clear on what it is you want to achieve from your game of golf today. Is it to let off steam, is it to be social with your friends or is it to play the round to the absolute best of your ability. Having a clear outcome is very important as your mind needs to know what to focus on.
2. Visualise the outcome. Creating a picture is really important as it gives a clear message to your mind on what to notice. At first, this mental image needs to be like a photograph, with you in the picture, so that you are looking at yourself doing whatever you need to do to meet your outcome. So, for example, if it’s you playing a shot to the best of your ability, you need to see yourself doing that and any sounds associated with that image.
3. Refine the image. Spend some time refining the image. How are you standing? What can you hear yourself saying (even if it’s only talking to yourself inside your own head)? Modify this picture until it is absolutely perfect, so compelling and desirable that you absolutely have to have it.
4. Modify it by: a) Colour – change the colours or even make it black and white. b) Brightness – increase or decrease the brightness. c) Distance – bring it nearer or move it further away. d) Speed – increase or decrease the speed. e) Sound – increase or decrease the volume – change the sounds.
Once you have created a really compelling image, you now need to be in that image. Here’s how:
a. Some people can do this inside their own head. Simply visual the image and then bring is closer and closer until it’s so close that you are in it. So now you can hear the sounds, see the images through your own eyes (hands on the club, ball on the tee) and importantly, you begin to become aware of the FEELINGS associated with being part of the image.
b. Some people like to do this physically. Simply place the image on a space on the floor. Of course it’s not really on the floor but imagine it is. Make sure that you have it as it’s most compelling. When you are ready, step onto that image (into that space) and as you step onto the image be in it. So now you can hear the sounds, see the images through your own eyes (hands on the club, ball on the tee) and importantly, you begin to become aware of the FEELINGS associated with being inside image.
Re-look at the image and notice, now that you have experienced what it feels like to be in it, if there are any further changes to be made. Make any changes by repeating steps 3 and 4 above. What you are wanting from this process is a really clear mental image of what you will be doing when you have your outcome and importantly what it feels like when you are experiencing it.
Like all things working with your mind takes practice. Some people will be able to do this by themselves and others need the support of a performance coach. If your game is suffering because of your mind and its ability to have a clear focus – why not contact the Zest team and see how they can help. For more information visit their website www.zestlearning.co.uk or email nikki@zestlearning.co.uk.
