Breaking Par: Unlocking the power of positive thinking will help you dominate the mental game of golf.
When playing golf, women and girls often face unique challenges. These include the mental aspects of golf.
By developing the right mindset (a positive mindset) golfers who are women and girls can achieve good results and conquer the game.
In this article we are going to explore the power of positive thinking as it relates to golf.
Also, how, with this knowledge and mindset, women and girls can break par on the golf course.
What Is Positive Thinking?
Kendra Cherry of VeryWellMind, describes positive thinking in this way:
Positive thinking does not necessarily mean avoiding difficult situations. Instead, positive thinking means making the most of potential obstacles, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.
Kendra Cherry, VeryWellMind.
For more about this by Kendra Cherry, go here.
How, then, might the power of positive thinking impact women and girls in golf?
It would seem, therefore, that it is a powerful way of dispelling any fears and anxieties about playing this traditional “men’s game”.
Let’s find out more.
Understanding That Golf Is As Much Mental As Physical.
It is important to realize that the mindset of a golfer can make or break his or her performance on the golf course.
A player’s game can be negatively impacted by fear, anxiety and self-doubt.
In addition, women and girls can often face other mental challenges, For instance, the thought that golf is a male-dominated sport and she is not good enough, may filter in.
This feeling can be intensified if she is paired up with a group of men for a round of golf.
Thus, a lack of confidence in her own abilities on the golf course, may cause even more negative thoughts.
Therefore, if you want to improve your game, it’s important to develop a positive mental attitude.
Techniques To Help You Foster A Positive Mental Attitude.
Visualization is a powerful way of developing a positive mental attitude.
The best way to achieve this is to picture yourself making a great shot, or putting a “Birdie”.
If you can do this, you will be starting to develop the right mental attitude for the game of golf.
Imagine yourself achieving your best golf score ever. Imagine how you’d feel!
Positive self-talk is another great strategy.
Telling yourself “I can do this”, “I know I can drive well” or “I can make this long putt” will help to reinforce your positive attitude and improve your game.
Deep breathing and muscle relaxing exercises will also help you to stay focused and in the game.
Setting realistic expectations for yourself is an absolute must.
Play golf with positive people so that, together, you can celebrate your achievements.
Develop Good Habits for Positive Thinking.
Before you even get to the golf course, you should spend some time thinking about the game that day.
Use the visualization techniques we have mentioned above to develop the right mindset. Build up your confidence before you start with positive self-talk about your strategy for the game.
During the game, aim to stay calm and centered. Don’t let any duff shots influence your thinking.
Keep your confidence level high throughout the round.
Benefits Of The Right Mindset For Women And Girls In Golf.
Some of the benefits of developing and maintaining a positive mindset for golf are:
- A reduction in anxiety.
- Improved performance.
- Increased well-being.
- Increased enjoyment of the game.
- A reduction in stress.
- Improved self-confidence.
All this will ultimately lead to more consistency, better shots and maybe, your best golf score ever!
Final Thoughts On Breaking Par: Unlocking The Power Of Positive Thinking.
Finally, developing and maintaining a positive mindset can be a real game-changer for women and girl golfers.
In this article, we have discussed:
- What is the power of positive thinking.
- Understanding that golf is as much mental as physical.
- Techniques to help you foster a positive mental attitude.
- Develop good habits for positive thinking
- Benefits of the right mindset for women and girls in golf.
Putting the strategies we have mentioned into practice will definitely help to improve your performance on the golf course.
With improved performance will come more enjoyment of the game. This statement is so true.
I remember my first time on a golf course (after the driving range). I expected to hit the same sort of great shots.
Not so.
I was terrible.
Once I adjusted my expectations to a realistic level, my game began to improve. My enjoyment of the game increased and now I love it.
And remember that positive thinking applies not only to golf, but also to life!
I’m not a sports person. I feel lucky just to be able to walk! Ha ha!
But this is excellent advice for all women and girls. The man’s world we live in puts us down, non-stop. And not just in sports. Visualization and positive self-talk, along with all the other strategies you list, really help us to work around the negative conditioning. And freedom from that will, hopefully, help us achieve what we’ve sets our sight on. Regardless of how we are supposedly “not able” or not allowed. Prejudice like that is just stupid. And finding ways to get the internalized negativity out of our systems is ALWAYS a good idea. Whether it’s a good golf game we are after, or changing the world in some important way…it’s all the same thing.
So, brava! Good job! Great post! Keep up the good work!
Anna
Hello Anna, Thank you for your comment on my article about unlocking the power of positive thinking. I’m glad you found some inspiration from it. Positivity is an important part of life development and, of course, does not only apply to female golfers. As I said at the end of the article, it applies to life as well. Thanks for stopping by. Best wishes, Jenni.
I would like to comment you for your insightful article on developing good habits for positive thinking. Your suggestions are practical and easy to implement, and I appreciate the emphasis on self-care and challenging negative beliefs. Your recommendation to practice gratitude resonated with me, as it is something that I try to incorporate into my daily routine. I also found your suggestion to visualize success helpful, as it can be a powerful motivator to keep pushing towards my goals. Overall, your article serves as a valuable guide for anyone seeking to cultivate a more positive mindset. Thank you for sharing your expertise and insights, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
Thank you for your comment, Ani. I knew that although I was writing it for women and girls who golf, it would be applicable to anyone who is plagued by negative thoughts. Visualization is certainly a powerful tool, and it can work wonders if you are committed to it. I’m so glad that you enjoyed reading my article and gained some insight from it. Regards, Jenni.