Imagine you enter a room of wonders, but the light is switched off.  In your hand you have a torch with a concentrated beam.

You turn it on and look to see that it lights up a monster.  You get a fright and then move the torch to light up something else.  This time it shines on a big dog.  You run from the room, scared to stay in there any longer for fear that the room is completely filled with dangerous creatures.

Another person walks in and uses the torch to find the light switch.  When the light is switched on the room is filled with light and shows up treasures, clothes, games, a friendly dog and a poster of a giant.

In life we get snapshots of our experiences and give them meaning.  Because of the meaning we give them, it shapes our future perceptions, e.g. someone is a gossip (you hear).  You look for evidence to support this.  This belief becomes a filter where even the slightest evidence to support the belief is perceived as confirmation of the belief no matter how many examples there are to support a contrary belief.

This is a perfect example of filtering our experiences and only noticing what it is we are focussed on.

Our focus is on what we expect to happen.   What if our focus shifted to what we want to happen and then we look for evidence to support that!

Effect of Focus

If you focus on things that aren’t going to help you to get better as a golfer, does this mean that you are likely to get what you are focussed on, i.e. things that ensure we don’t get better?  The answer is ‘yes’.

If you have a goal of becoming more competitive, your task is to look for examples that will support the belief that you are a competitive golfer.  These could include

• You are competing so by definition you are a competitor.

• Each time you make a par or birdie it means you have the capacity to make more pars and birdies.

• Celebrate each time you make a par or birdie, or have a good score.  This provides a much stronger emotional attachment to birdies, pars and good scores.

• Focus on successes and good shots on the course.  The emotional attachment to a good shot or score needs to be much greater than for a poor shot or score.

• Record insights that support your belief in a diary or journal and read the comments; imagine you will continue to get more examples of being a great competitor.

• Acknowledge supportive people and those whose comments are complimentary.  Especially comments about your competitive abilities. Ignore all others.

• Spend more time with people who will support your beliefs about your strong competitive ability.

How do you think you might go after a few months of this?  What about a few years?  How do you think that might impact your performances in the future?

What effects will you notice and how will you feel about that?

Some things to focus on

Consider some great things to focus on.

• Your own brilliance
• Personal certainty that you can achieve what you want
  • This is great for seeking support for your dreams
  • It is inspiring to acknowledge yourself for having that certainty.
• Abundance
• Of opportunities to succeed.
• Abilities
  • Learning ability
  • Competing and winning
• Getting clear on your dreams
  • Ensure they are challenging
  • Think about them in a quiet moment, on your own and really commit to them.
• Awareness
  • Where you really are in relation to your objectives
  • What works and what doesn’t.

The list above is a starter list.  Add to that list in the space below.

“You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind.”

Darwin P Kingsley