Backsliding: It’s not a matter of if, but when.

(This is the eighth and final article in an eight-part series inspired by Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras.)
Mary H., with a 9 hole index of 27, and a participant in my unlimited monthly program, proclaimed she was on the verge of quitting. After her poor performance the day before, she wanted to abandon the game. We’ve all been there!

Low and behold, the following morning she mustered up the courage to continue her golf endeavors. During the on-course clinic, her entire team was counting on her to make a shot to win the competition.  She proceeded to hit the shot a foot from the pin! (Pictured above)

Which obstacle did Mary overcome? The last and final obstacle Patañjali lists in the Yoga Sūtras . . . backsliding (Sanskrit: anavassthitattva, I:33). During backsliding, our performance suffers a setback, our game is unpredictable, we fall back many times, and eventually we lose interest.

When does backsliding become a slump? It’s all a matter of perspective. The longer we let backsliding go unattended, the deeper into the hole we dig ourselves.  Fortunately for Mary, she was able to immediately get back on track the following morning.

Golf constantly reminds us that it’s not a matter of if the obstacles will appear, but when.  As mindful golfers, we have the tools to bounce back from a bad day.  When our team needs us most, we stick the shot a foot from the pin!

Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Golf Sutras: Lessons for Transforming the Mental Game with Yoga’s Inner Wisdom” and founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, golf yoga workshops, and Mindfulness for Golf programs in Santa Cruz, CA