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New Release
The Fairway Of Life
Simple Secrets To Playing Better Golf By Going With The Flow ~
Rand Scott Marquardt
Life & Mental Golf Performance Coach 
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FacebookThe Grind & The Zone
Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? In golf I liken the analogy of which comes first, The Grind or The Zone? Which comes first…The Grind so that we can find The Zone or relief so that we can avoid the struggle? How would we know what The Zone is unless we first experienced being out of The Zone and being in a struggle? Perhaps by working through these understandings we can choose to have better control over our own self.
We tend to create this image that golf is hard and it is a grind. While it is certainly an admirable trait to grind it out versus giving up, our aim is to find relief and align ourselves with feeling good, which gives us confidence and a belief in ourselves, otherwise known as being in The Zone. Whereas, The Grind is often thought of as a buckling-down approach—whatever it takes to scrape out our best. Admirable: yet not ideal.
Many of us have a tendency to make things out to be such a struggle, such a grind; most of us end up paddling real hard against the current because we think that is how golf and life is supposed to be: a constant challenge, a hard-fought battle, a grind. Who told you so? Some people even get so good at it, that they actually embrace the grind every time out, perhaps it’s a self-defense concept they created to allow them to make sense of it all. It’s like we hear them saying, “Hey look at me! I’m struggling really hard over here.” Or, after the round, “It was a real grind out there.” Sometimes we give them a pat on the back, “That’s my chip off the old block. Keep up the good work.” However, the truth be told, in those moments of the struggle we end up taking ourselves out of The Zone once again. The grind is some sort of resistance or rationalization that is blocking the flow of Well-Being, which is where The Zone exists. What is causing you to grind it out? And I know sometimes it just feels that way. I’m inviting you to relax into this game, find some relief and learn to go with the flow. Remember golf is supposed to be fun. Many think the answer is to keep on paddling really, really hard–beating more golf balls than ever before. This kind of repetitive vicious cycle keeps repeating itself over and over again. Like Einstein reminds us about the definition of insanity. You can’t solve a problem with the same energy that created it.
I hear you when thinking about how Tiger often talks about how much of a grind it was “out there.” I’m not saying this feeling doesn’t exist. I’m just saying we all can do a little bit better than we used too…even Tiger. And when we do a little bit better than we used too – we end up playing a little better. The spiral moves upward versus the other way around. The better it gets…the better it gets.
Tiger’s grind on the other hand may be slightly different from the rest of us mere mortals, wouldn’t you say? He misses three or four fairways or the pin by 25 feet on a couple occasions and he’s missed the shot. We end up in the blackberry bushes or tall weeds 30 yards from the green. His desires and expectations are a tad higher. Plus, he aligns his vibrational energy to match what he intends and expects. He executes and performs to what he visualizes more often than not. In other words, Tigers allows his intention to be. He’s in alignment with his asking. That’s what makes Tiger tick. What a mindset and focus. Imagine Tiger’s view of the field and that narrow window or rectangle of where he intends to play the shot giving his best effort in this moment on this particular shot or putt. Go be something similar to this mindset yourself. Begin visualizing and narrowing your field. The shot produces the swing, not the other way around. With a mindset like Tiger’s we too can become better tomorrow than we are today.
What you don’t hear is how often Tiger is actually clicking along and playing pretty well. He does play in the now. However, his mindset is always wanting to be better tomorrow than today. That’s his inspiration and motivation. Tiger appears to be never satisfied; yet he is still the greatest ever. He’s hungry and he’s humble. I’d be surprised if he isn’t absolutely ecstatic on the inside for everything he has accomplished and absolutely thrilled with how he plays when he’s on. What I see is that he doesn’t want to lose his edge. He just doesn’t want to be or get complacent. He’s on a mission. It’s called 19 majors – then perhaps more. To be the world’s best means you hold the most majors on your mantle.
Tiger really does play pretty damn good golf after it is all said and done; wouldn’t you say? When Tiger is on – which is often – he is pointing his kayak downstream and going with the flow. It’s just that simple. He’s in alignment with his Source and desire to be his absolute best…world’s best. What more is there? Tiger has set the bar and keeps breaking it. Tiger keeps imprinting even more of a champion’s self-image upon the inner workings of his subconscious mind…and so can you and I.
Wouldn’t it be easier to point your kayak in the direction of the current and simply go with the flow of the stream? Wouldn’t it be easier to allow yourself the freedom to build the sandcastle, skip the stone, or swing the club with your natural most inspired state of being and simply go with the flow? Wouldn’t it be easier to play like you practice, like no one is watching, or execute like it was your practice swing: effortless and less arduous? Wouldn’t it be easier to make your first putt more often than when you drop a second ball in its place? Second putts made. Wouldn’t it be easier if you really knew what you are doing when you are practicing and you were practicing mentally in The Zone? The Flow is The Zone. The Zone is always present. There is only The Zone, a source of Well-Being—which you are either allowing, or not. Everything else is resistance or a block or an obstacle to The Zone that is always flowing.
It’s really pretty simple; remove the resistance, block, or obstacle and allow the Well-Being in. Your Well-Being is The Zone. The Zone is always present. The Zone is going with the flow.
The best analogy I could give you is watching young children play. They’re in The Zone practically all the time. They don’t know any better or any different, they haven’t been socialized or conditioned to our cultural story yet. There is no fear of failure or fear of success they are just being themselves. They’re not being judged or think they are being judged. They don’t think about results, they just do it.
Coaches Notes: A deeper lesson in this whole process is how we encourage, support, and guide another. While our intentions may mean well there is a fine line between critiquing and judging performance and giving advice versus offering positive feedback and offering support and guidance. Asking what questions at the “right” time allows the student to reflect and perhaps make the changes themselves. Invite the student to ask the questions themselves. Invite the student to explore the understanding that the answer and wisdom lies within them. Pointing out body positions through a camera film perhaps allows the student to see potential opportunity for growth.
Another analogy of being in The Zone is when Tiger is throwing darts and sinking putts. Tiger focuses on the moment putting forth his very best effort on this drive, on this swing, and on this putt – and he’s not concerned about his result or outcome until after it happens, which in Tiger’s case most often is a great result. He’s tuned in, turned on, tapped in – he’s locked in on this very moment. Plus he’s like a kid having fun. Where did Tiger get his mental toughness? Was it from Mom and Pop, or within? Is it nurture or nature? Perhaps it’s a little bit of both exposures; whatever he allows to filter into his subconscious mind.
Divine Feelings in 2009 - Part II
We play out best in life and golf when we are being our most inspired state of being, whatever that is for each of us. What are those feelings of being that most resonate with you when you are being your best? Are you being clear, wise, connected, knowing? Or are you being happy, peaceful, following your bliss? Are you feeling exhilaration, eager anticipation, or calmness in the moment like a simple stroll in the park? Whatever your most inspired state of being and how you feel when you are being your best is what I am asking you to reach for. The more we train ourselves into being this first, the easier it will be to have what we desire, and do what we wanted all along - play our best golf! I’m simply inviting you to go straight into being that. Here’s a few mental tips to practice in your daily routine. Take a few minutes each day to practice feeling the divine feelings that make you feel good.
Now in the stillness of your soul or meditation or prayer of your mind, body, and spirit feel the feelings and real involve all your senses to anchor (or remind) you to what your soul is really after. That’s all I’m really doing reminding you to what you already know. To better serve you and anchor these feelings simply follow these 8 steps or make up your own:
1. Call forth the sights or images that align with your feelings. It could be your dream, your meditation, your prayer, a calm lake, a gentle flowing stream, or recalling those special moments when you were playing your best golf. Simply allow yourself to see the images you have called forth to anchor that divine feeling you wish to experience.
2. Call forth the feelings that align with your most inspired state of being. Am I feeling appreciation, gratitude, humility, peace, harmony, joy, love, and Well-Being flow through my body? Am I feeling empowered, on fire, freedom to express, and a feeling of just knowing? Am I being clear, wise, connected, or happy? Am I being who I really am? Am I going with the flow? Personally, I have a humble, yet inspired feeling that when I’m playing my best golf I feel I am on top of the world, and I am most grateful to Source Energy in experiencing that. I thank God for allowing this wonderful state of being to flow to me and through me.
3. Call forth the sounds or vibrations that most resonate with that feeling. It could be church bells, birds chirping, or a favorite song on your mp3 player, a well-struck golf ball, or communication with Source Energy. Example: When I’m in The Zone I hear the Bruce Springsteen song lyrics, “…whoa oh oh I’m on fire.” Then I go on with other thoughts about life or nature until it is time to hit another golf shot. I’m resonating in the now feeling good. Identify what vibration that would smell like? Pure, natural, pine trees, cedar, chocolate, fresh cut crass, or magic in the air? Tiger Woods and his caddie, Stevie pay attention to all of these senses between golf shots even the smell of a hot dog from the gallery. It helps to ground us in the present moment. What are the colors that you most associate with? Are they green like nature, or blue like the sky, or white like the fallen snow, or red like the pureness of heart?
4. Next, find a sentence or two that will affirm these feelings. Find, a phrase or an expression of your highest Self. “I am an extension of Source Energy and Well-Being flows to me and through me.” It could be your mantra or prayer. It could come from an inspirational quote, song, or from a poem. “I’m on fire.” Pick one or two of these phrases that most align with the agenda of your soul as you “Follow your bliss,” by Joseph Campbell. Pick a word that will describe these feelings, like “Serenity,” “Peaceful,” or “Joy.”
5. As you visualize upon these feelings and your ideal state of being allow the wisdom within you to take action as you gravite towards the picture you paint in your dreams. Now that you can see and feel and be what your end result or dream may look like simply take action, and as Socrates used to say, “Be as you wish to seem.” Take action that will support your journey along your true path and simply act as if it is so. Simply behave as if you already have this. No worries because once you make the commitment to be this, the hows will present themselves in a most enlightening and awe-inspiring way. God works in mystery ways my friends and very often you will be presented with this understanding in ways beyond your wildest imagination. Ask and it is given. Now be aware and align yourself with your asking and soon you will be living this manifestation, this life of your dreams. Be as you wish to seem and act as if it so. Let Go and let God. Go ahead and take action and ground yourself with these new thoughts, which form our behavior that will ultimately get deposited into the treasury of your subconscious mind – that runs everything in your life including your golf game. The thoughts, words, and action forming your new behavior will come in many forms, just as does God. You cannot miss them once you listen. Your job is to be who you really are, follow your bliss and be as you wish to seem. Be the feelings of the divine expression of who you really are and then you will do, act, and behave from that state which will produce your having what you wanted all along. You simply sync up with how life really works.
6. Remember The Magic Formula: End Result (your dream, your intention) plus Action (just take the next logical step) equals The Hows (divine inspiration) plus Manifestation (living your dream). You live the life of your dreams.
7. Journal, create a vision board, post notes, anchor yourself with your newfound desire, and take action. Keep on asking yourself, will this make me a better me?
8. Now, go to sleep with this new intention and really involve all your senses and feelings. Spend 5-10 minutes visualizing and giving thanks. Wake up in the morning feeling good. Spend another 5-10 minutes visualizing and giving thanks. Show up big with everyone in your life and embrace the uggs, and the highs and lows along The Fairway of Life. It’s all a “perfect plan” unfolding right in front of your eyes. Spend 15-20 minutes meditating or being still every day away from all the normal noise of the world and things to do. Very soon you won’t have to worry about your New Years Resolutions because you’ll be living your dream and becoming everything you desired all along. It all comes full circle. “Be as you wish to seem,” Socrates.
Warmly,
Coach
Divine Feelings in 2009 - Part I
Okay, so you’ve got your vision or New Years golf resolution picture clearly painted in your minds eye, and you’ve declared out loud in front of others what you truly desire to be as a golfer this coming year; a lower handicap, more free to express yourself, break 90 on a consistent basis, a better putter, or world’s #1. You have haven’t you? Declaring out loud in front of another sets this whole process (commitment) of Providence (divine inspiration) into motion. Without a direction we become like the ship without a rudder. Reflect upon the wisdom of Albert Einstein, “Imagine your ideal future. Your imagination is your preview to life’s coming attractions.” You will become what you think about. You will gravitate towards the desire of your highest ambition. The mystery is solved when you decide to choose these things rather than waiting to someday discover them by chance. Remember the ending of this quote largely attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “…Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Kenny Perry, a PGA Tour veteran even surprised himself with doing some goal setting in 2008 by achieving his goal of being on the Ryder Cup team, saying something to the affect (paraphrasing), ‘Perhaps there is something here, something more to take a look at…’ Yes Kenny, you achieved because you put your mind and commitment upon this intention and believed it to be so. What’s new for 2009?
You see this first step is what keeps so many stuck in the same comfort zone rut year after year. While this concept seems so simple most golfers have no idea where they are going with their golf game, yet alone where they are going in life and the evolution and agenda of their soul. Most golfers think struggle and hard work on the range and body position is the key to a good golf game. I agree that practice and range work is part of this process, however I would replace the concept of struggle with allowing it to be. I also invite my students to first set an intention or a New Years golf resolution first. For a current review of creating a New Years golf resolution please read my last blog dated 12/30/08 to get yourself up to speed with this vital first step…then you will begin your journey by taking action and life will unfold as easily and as logically as Spock might say, ‘My calculations tell me that if you just take the next logical step you will 100% achieve the results you desire.’ All life is asking and all you are asking of yourself is just taking the next logical step. And when we do this we naturally allow the process to unfold in perfect timing. This is The Secret of the universe. It’s called The Law of Attraction – that which is likened unto it self is drawn. We Become What We Think.
The Secret (or the answer and wisdom) lies within you. It is the alignment with who you really are. It is the connection with Source Energy that allows the flow of Well-Being. It is this alignment and connection that is sought after by all. It is these expressions of alignment of Well-Being and this connection with life that we all desire to experience. It is the key to our peace, happiness, and joy within. Success is actually the amount of joy that we feel. What is it that you wish to be and feel? What state of beingness most inspires you? Go straight into being and feeling that both in life and on the golf course.
Another way to describe this alignment and connection is what are these feelings or expressions do you most desire to align with? What divine feeling do you want to explore or align with this coming year? What is the feeling, the frequency, or vibration? What is this energy that most resonates within your soul? Please take a moment to reflect and journal about this energy and this feeling.
What is this feeling? How will this feeling serve to make the dream (your dream) of the sacred universe come true? How does this feeling serve the greater whole?
* Help those around you?
* Heal your own heart?
* Make me a better me?
* Stretch beyond your comfort zone? Take risks? Color outside the box?
* Play golf & life like it is meant to be – for FUN!
* Step into the calling and next highest demonstration of your soul?
* Listen to the agenda of your soul. What the soul is after is the highest expression of who you really are. Feelings are the language of the soul. What is this feeling?
* How will this or these feeling(s) allow you to recreate yourself anew? And…
* “Become the grandest version of the greatest vision ever you have held about who you really are,” Neale Donald Walsch?
We all have these feelings, these levels of consciousness and connection with All That Is, this vibrational energy when we align with the frequency that resonates within our soul right inside us all the time. You see frustration and anxiety comes from not listening to one’s soul. Our job, therefore, is to align with our higher Self and these divine feelings and activate them. Think of it as a wake up call. Many of us have been going through life in a slumber sleep walk being tossed and reacting to life here and there as it unfolds as if it is by default, now I am asking you and reminding you to simply wake up again and choose to create intentionally. Wake up to the highest most divine expression of who you really are. Your soul has brought you to what you are being right now. Jesus described it this way, “Once I was lost and now I am found.” What is the divine feeling of being found?
…Stay tuned for the second half of this story
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