What 2008 Brought #4
My focus must change
This has to be the most important lesson I learned this year. I spent most of my time this year worrying about everything else and not focusing 100% on the task at hand. I focused all my energy on what my golf would do. This was a terrible way to spend the season, but I had to experience it to learn this important lesson. I’m very happy that I learned it in my first year. I feel that I’ve gotten over the hurdle of trying to impress others by playing well. My motivation and focus is now trying to see how good I can get to prove to myself that I can compete at the level I’ve always dreamed of. I understand this all sounds very selfish, but it’s not from a selfish place. This thinking comes from a self motivated place. I still believe that I’m playing golf for a higher purpose, and that’s the only thing that keeps me going. In the meantime, I’m learning that the focus has to be on the shot in front of me, and not what the results of this shot(good or bad) will have on my or anyone else’s future.
I’ve always been a worrier. I’ve always worried about the future. It’s something I’m slowing breaking from. I’m slowly giving up trying to control the things I can’t control. I’m now learning to focus my attention on what I can control. In this case it’s hitting good golf shots, sticking to my commitments out on the course. I can’t control where my funding will come from, what clubs I’ll use, where I’ll play further down the road, etc…
Trust me, this has been something that became apparent early in the year. I never realized how deep an issue it was until it was fully exposed. I feel that I’m closer to where I need to be to allow myself to really focus on the shot in front of me. When I can check everything else at the door and focus on the task at hand and nothing else, it will be a huge personal victory, but it will also allow me to be victorious on the golf course.
