Settling Your Focus?

“A person with a settled mind is like an ocean.  Countless rivers and streams pour their waters into the ocean, yet it is never overwhelmed.”  -Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D. (The Secret of the Yoga Sutra, Samadhi Pada)

Typically, a golfer’s mind is turned and pulled by the temptations of birdies and bogeys. Going for the green, laying up, the trees on the right, and the O.B. on the left are all there to challenge our constant awareness of the shot’s purpose. 

The role of our mental practice is to direct our attention away from these temptations. A focused mind will not wander to the negative lures on the links. The unending whirlpool of anxious thoughts loses their power as we keep a constant awareness of our shot’s purpose. With a clear vision and our shot’s priorities straight, we will remain unperturbed in the face of the course’s demands. This is the practice of focus.

Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, golf yoga workshops, and mindfulness for golf programs in Santa Cruz, CA.