Stress
Pressure
Frustration
Burnout
These are just a few of the psychological challenges you may experience on a daily basis.
There are obviously a lot more.
But these are some of the main ones over the years... that have caused golfers to come to me for help.
And not just golfers.
Have you been noticing in the news how many elite athletes in multiple sports are struggling with psychological issues?
Tennis players
Soccer players
Gymnasts
The list goes on and on.
One of the core causes of all these psychological challenges is lack of Presence.
Stress and pressure are triggered by focusing on the result you want instead of the process that will create that result.
You are looking to the future instead of being engaged in the present.
Frustration is triggered when you fall short of goals that you have set.
You put more focus on the gap between where you want to be and where you are... Than you put on what you're doing in the moment.
Burnout is dealing with any of these psychological challenges over a long period of time.
Learning how to be Present in the Process while you are training and while you are performing has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to overcome these challenges.
One of the most powerful tools you have to combat these issues is "Autotelic Action".
Remember... The definition of an "Autotelic Action" is:
An action that you perform because you love it.
If you want to learn a bit more about Autotelic Action check my post from last week.
Overcoming psychological challenges using Autotelic Action is about rediscovering what you love most about your sport.
It is about finding the parts of your training and parts of your performing that make you smile... even on your worst days.
When you are doing things that you love you are going to be much more Present and you are going to be much more engaged in the process.
It is always much easier to fully dive into doing something you love... as opposed to doing something as a means to an end.
The reality is... This is not a short-term fix.
It is going to take time and effort.
Because for most of us the focus on results has been a pattern for a long time.
Deep-seated patterns like this take time to rewire
But it is well worth the time and the effort to become more of an Autotelic driven athlete.
Not only will you be happier athlete.
You will also be strengthening one of the main triggers to getting in the Zone and close to the Zone more often.
