The spring season began with a strong desire to improve my golf game, and return to some sort of normalcy. Booking a tee time, seemed simultaneously familiar and foreign after months of reconfiguring the simplest activities. COVID-19 has strained every aspect of our lives and this felt like one opportunity to look forward to being outdoors and around people even from a distance. Although face masks are required in public areas and the check-in is a new process, it’s a beautiful place to spend time. Memories of decent rounds or the trajectory of a perfect drive outweigh less stellar and far more common shots and the possibility that it will all come together this year.
I’ve worked with a fantastic pro in the past and it made sense to begin again, actually before the course was even open. Technology is a marvelous tool as part of an instructional package and it’s easy to develop a love/hate relationship with the camera. Viewing my swing in disbelief at times has been a humbling experience, yet invaluable, especially when trying to incorporate change. The golf swing isn’t an intuitive motion and the nuanced pieces of it can be especially frustrating. Just when you think you have one part handled, another element falls apart. Yet, in those fleeting moments when it all works in sync, I am pulled back for more rounds and more instruction. It can be addictive…in a good way.
Practice your golf game! What does that really mean? How many hours for playing? How many hours at the driving range? How many lessons? Join a club or a league? Buy new equipment?
When I drilled down to identify what the drivers were for me, I discovered the following possible benefits:
Better enjoyment of the game
More opportunities to play with others in business or social settings
Combine with future travel
Possibly compete
Faster pace
Moderate exercise benefit
Refining a laser focus on the present
Dedicating real time to improving a skill that has the potential to add another dimension to my life
Improvement is only one aspect of the game and another is maintaining any new skill-set. It calls for vigilance and discipline, characteristics that sometimes slip away. However, the good news is that my handicap has decreased several strokes and I’ve become a better golfer so far this season. While it’s not a panacea, the steps I’m taking to improve will help in other aspects of life. By ascertaining my goals, enumerating the possible benefits and with a big picture to visualize, staying on track in other areas has been easier. And, it’s been a relief to change the daily rhythm of life in COVID while benefiting from walking, playing and learning. The infusion of energy and shifting attention has the added benefit of impacting other life functions, elevating mood and building confidence.
What’s one skill that you would like to improve?
What steps do you need to take?
When will you begin?
However comfortable you assumed you were with change, it may also morph into overwhelming anxiety that was never anticipated. Trying new things, improving skills and challenging yourself are all forward thinking actions that spill over into other areas. As you took time to develop different mechanics, visualizations and thinking there was also an internal shift. Preparation is key and this is the ideal time to engage the support of a career coach with experience in helping professionals achieve better, faster, results. At KICKSTART Your Transition we offer a broad range of services to fit your needs
©MWeisner2020
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