Letting Go

If we accept the premise that letting go of our conscious mind’s tendency to try to control the movements of our golf swing will benefit our golf performance, what do we actually need to ‘let go’ of, and how do we accomplish that ‘letting go?’ I think the primary thing we need to let go of is judgment – self-judgment, along with the fear of judgment by others. I think we need to let go of our fear of disapproval. It may be part of human nature to desire approval by others, but for our best golf performance, I think we need to be aware of the degree of this tendency or ‘mindset.’

For a brief examination of how the concept of ‘letting go’ relates to the effectiveness of our golf swing, see Chapter 2, Discovering Unconscious Competency, Releasing Fear, and Letting Go, in the Awaken Your Inner Golfer book.

In order to understand this a little better, let’s play ‘devil’s advocate’ and imagine that we mercilessly judge and disapprove of our self if we hit a ‘bad’ shot. In this present moment, as you read this and imagine mercilessly judging your performance, or actually remembering a time that you did judge and berate yourself for a ‘bad’ shot, can you actually feel the tension in your body? Do you think your body would feel free to perform effortlessly and instinctively, with ease and freedom, under this tension-generating judgmental mindset?! Do you understand that there is an intelligent connection between your mind and your body?

Do you also realize that our judgment of ‘bad’ shots 
is actually a rejection of an opportunity to adapt and learn??!!

Now, let’s imagine that we are concerned about the judgment of others if we hit a ‘bad’ shot. We’re worried (consciously or unconsciously) about what others might think of us if we hit a ‘clunker.’ Can you feel the tension in your body? Do you think your body would feel free to swing instinctively under this mindset of concern about what others might think about us? Do you accept that our ‘state of mind’ affects how our body performs?!? Do you realize that our worry about what others think of us is actually a rejection of an opportunity to learn – about both our golf swing and our inner selves? I guess it comes down to a simple question of “Do you understand that there is a connection between how and what we are thinking and how our body performs?!?

It’s not that our mind can control our bodily movements, but it’s about the clarity of our mind’s intention. Our mind’s intention is how we communicate with our body! Our mind’s intention influences our body’s performance. An intention free of self-judgment, and free of the fear of judgment by others, communicates a state of freedom for our body to move freely to fulfill our intention. It’s like we are giving our body permission to move and perform instinctively. Yes, it’s subtle! Let’s call it having a subtle intention!! It’s a mindset of embracing a subtle intention to hit a golf ball solidly without interference from our conscious thinking mind instructing us on how to do it!!

If the intellect is involved during a motion,
the body will not be free.
Steven Yellin The Fluid Motion Factor

We’ve covered what we need to let go of – judgment – now let’s reflect on ‘how’ we accomplish this ‘letting go’ of judgment. If we accept Steven Yellin’s proposition that if our thinking intellect is involved in our golf swing our body will not feel free to swing instinctively, then maybe we need to allow our body/mind to sense and feel during our swing. But, how do we do that?!? Here’s where the instinct-awakening golf exercises in Awaken Your Inner Golfer can assist in transforming thinking into sensing and feeling during our golf swing.

The following quote by Chuck Hogan in opening Chapter 6, Guide to the Instinct-Awakening Golf Exercises in Awaken Your Inner Golfer, ‘says it all.’

During these times when judgment is withheld,
analyzation is suspended and we enter into
the realm of pure play,
we find that we are without limits.

Exploring the instinct-awakening golf exercises in Chapter 7 through the shorter chip/pitch and half-swing full shots (rather than trying to ingrain ‘correct’ mechanics with repetitive effortful full shots) allows our body/mind enough time to develop feel in our hands and in our body. As we develop feel in our hands, it awakens our entire body’s kinesthetic intelligence to move with rhythm and flow. You’ll be quieting your thinking mind and you’ll be learning how to be in your body. Your body/mind will be so busy sensing and feeling that your conscious mind won’t have the opportunity to foster judgment. You’ll likely be joyfully surprised as you experience the satisfaction of pure impact facilitated by the shorter golf shots. Your body/mind will remember the joy of the child-like way of learning through exploration, self-discovery and awareness of the feel in your body. This way of learning will help your mind ‘let go’ of the habit of judgment.

You will hit some ‘clunkers’ in exploring these exercises utilizing unique variations in grip, stance and swing, etc., but you will be learning to adapt, and you’ll be educating your body for increased versatility. As you ‘let go’ of judgment of any ‘clunkers’ you give your body/mind permission to adapt and learn. 

And as you give yourself permission to adapt and learn, 
you will be learning how to ‘let go’ of judgment!!

Trust that the experience of feel in your body will instinctively translate into effective mechanics in your golf swing. I hope you enjoy a chuckle or a laugh at how easy hitting a golf ball becomes when you let go of the learned attitude of judgment, and immerse yourself in the child-like way of learning through exploration and self-discovery.

As I often end these Blogs: Play, have fun, explore and discover……let go of your adult seriousity……and learn the way of a child.

LETTING GO
Let go, let go, let go……
To express what your body already knows
Free of judgement, free of fear……
So your golf swing can instinctively flow!