Each possibility of course requires a certain level of awareness to develop in order to experience a break-through. During the awareness development phase we often experience a distruption in performance that is actually a biological requirement in developing.
Take the act of a child learning how to walk, throw a ball, or ride a bike. These actions are incredibly complex yet most all of us become quite proficient at these tasks, after safely failing, over and over and over again. What I mean by safely is more than the physical danger of falling or getting hit by a ball,but the support system that also creates a feeling of safety to learn and keep at it.(When I was learning to catch, my dad threw a baseball to me that hit me right in the eye, then simply said, "That's where your glove is suppose to be son." Long story short I learned to catch pretty well.)
The less judgment that is present while learning, the more you will learn. period. By simply distinguishing the differences in an action, just as a child does when learning to walk, you will begin to find balance, or your golf swing in the context in which we're talking. A child would never find balance without the vivid experiences of imbalance. HOW TO PRACTICE(in a nut shell)
-No matter where you are in terms of experience, awareness development and knowing who you are being(enthusiastic, excited, curious, doubtful, afraid, resigned etc.) will always be the fuel that drives you towards or away from a break-through....
1) If your point of view does not change nothing will change. You might see the light at the end of the tunnel but you will never know how bright the light is or how it brings a whole new world to life until you step outside of the darkness of the tunnel.
2) Being intentional with each shot in one half hour of practice is far more engaging and developmental than spending 1 hour wacking golf balls with your "same ol" commitments to looking good and trying to hit it straight. (Hint:It's way easier to be intentional when judgment is removed)
3) Just because you are hitting the ball good doesn't mean your learning anything and vise versa, just because you are hitting the ball poorly doesn't mean there isn't great possibilities for you to learn from that experience that could lead you to a break-through.
4)You have to be present either way. Being present is simply having your attention on something for the length of time you have determined to have it there for.
If you are not here(not here meaning in your head, thinking, judging, anticipating etc.) to notice any one of the following: Your body, the ball, the club,or your connection to the environment/target, then the last two seconds of your life while swinging the club was a blur...It also takes presence to notice that you weren't present, "Wow! I noticed my attention went to that dog barking rather than feeling my arms swinging back and through."
5) Create an environment for yourself where you are free to explore, create, laugh, learn, imagine, and play...then see what happens...
In appreciation,
Brandon Richardson,PGA
Golf with Freedom Lesson Center
www.GolfwithFreedom.Net
