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Stop Fixing Yourself: You\‘re Not Broken

By Dave Breslow
One of the most common statements I hear from players at every level is: “If I could only get out of my own way, I know I’d play better!” Have you ever thought this or said this to yourself? Do you find yourself muttering this when you miss an easy shot? Are negative emotions churning too high and are you allowing anger, lack of confidence or you allow anger, lack of confidence or the need to be perfect to interfere with your ability to play your best?
The truth is, when you think or say this statement, you’re absolutely right! You’re very smart because the truth is: if you did get out of your own way you would be better. The challenge most people have is they aren’t sure how to get out of their own way so they keep trying new tips in the hopes it will eventually happen.
Many believe the keys to success are hard work, the best equipment and the gathering of as much information as possible. Of course, these things are very important, but if these were the only keys more people would be shaving strokes off their game. A lot of people work hard, have great equipment and have loads of information at their disposal. They read a lot of books, buy tapes and attend seminars. So, why are they still not able to perform up to their true talent level? It’s because there is often a big gap between what they know and what they do. How do you know when you’re in your own way?
Here are some telltale signs:

You over analyze or your mind is “running on”
You get angry when things don’t go your way!
Frustration/anger interferes with good decision making
Lack of confidence appears prior to a shot
You recall negative memories prior to a shot
You try the same approach and expect a different result

FIXING WHAT’S NOT BROKEN
Many players are looking for “the answer” or one quick fix tip that will put them over the top. We know from our own experience that this approach rarely provides us with the longterm benefit we’re looking for, yet we continue chasing it down. Of course, we keep doing it as a way to pursue excellence and this is always an admirable quality. The real question becomes this: Is what we’re doing getting us what we want? If it is, great! If it’s not, it’s important to step back and take an honest look because the goal to improve is a good one, but most likely the strategy we’re using to get there isn’t.
I invite you to take a look at a common misperception I observe in many golfers I work with…in fact many other clients from all walks of life, as well. I call it the “Something’s broken so I need to fix it”mindset.
When people set off on a journey to compile more strategies and more tips to help them perform better, they do this while thinking that there’s something to “fix” in themselves. In other words, there is an assumption they are “broken” in some way because something’s not working. It makes perfect sense on the surface, doesn’t it? If you’re not playing as well as you know you can, the solution is to try and fix the problem, right? The problem with this mindset is most people keep trying to fix things that aren’t really the problem to begin with.
The Wired to Win© philosophy is not based on the “I need to fix myself” approach.You don’t need to fix anything. Truth is you already have the key performance tools you need to play your best golf. You simply need to put them back in sync. Believe it or not, some people would actually rather believe they need to fix themselves than believe they’re already equipped with everything they need. This “fix it” philosophy is an illusion and will keep a person “chasing their own tail.”
Here’s a metaphor to demonstrate this. I call it the “Elite Racing Engine.” A finely tuned racing engine is loaded with elite parts. When those parts run smoothly they operate in a very efficient manner.When there is any obstruction or disruption in the process this high performing engine generally begins to under-perform.One part of the engine works harder to overcompensate for the other poor working parts, and it will eat up more fuel than it normally would and generally perform at less than peak efficiency.
Here’s the question: When this engine under-performs, are the parts no longer elite?
The Answer: No, the parts are still elite. Just because the engine under-performs doesn’t mean the parts are no longer elite; they’re just not operating effectively together anymore. I believe this process is exactly the same for you and me. You already have elite parts within you. When you under-perform your parts aren’t “broken” nor are they less elite, they’re just not operating together efficiently!
The Wired to Win© approach is based on fundamental laws and principles that allow your elite parts to function more effectively. Most golfers don’t need “more” information. They already have far too much mental clutter as it is. Here’s the proof: If you’ve ever experienced the “zone” you know it’s a state where your elite parts are operating beautifully and it’s also a state of “less”…not more! When in the zone you don’t over-think, worry, compare or waste energy at all. So, playing your best is a matter of “less” not more…it’s a matter of really “getting out of your own way.”
“If I could only…”
David Breslow is a National Speaker, Author and Performance Consultant. His book, “Wired To Win” is available at 888.280.7715. His clients include professional athletes (PGA, LPGA, other sports) as well as Business Organizations. He brings a fresh, direct, no-nonsense revolutionary approach to Human Performance, helping people make quicker and more powerful shifts in attitude, behavior and action. His articles are read by over 400,000 people per month on The Golf Channel website. For more info on the NEW video training course, Consulting and Presentations; please visit: www.theflowzone.net, email: [email protected] or call: 847.681.0247