PACK LIGHT IF YOU'RE AIMING FOR THE SKY

A senior monk and a junior monk were travelling together when they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a young and very beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

The two monks paused and looked at one another for a moment knowing they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the senior monk picked up the young woman, carried her across the river. The junior monk couldn’t believe what had just happened.

As they continued on with their journey the junior monk was speechless as he ruminated over what had just happened. An hour passed without a word between them, two more hours passed, then three. Finally, the junior monk couldn't contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman, how could you carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The senior monk who had been blissfully enjoying the scenery looked at his friend and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

There is a simple message presented here about living in the present moment which can translate nicely across into your golf game. Staying in the present will not only help you shoot lowers scores; it will increase your overall peace of mind.

We all have had rounds of golf where things just don’t go the way we want them to. After these rounds it is easy to find yourself ruminating over what has happened, reliving the hooked drives, missed putts or poor decisions. This post round thought pattern can become habitual and very destructive to your confidence; and will ultimately weigh you down and sap your energy.

Instead you can choose to let go of what doesn’t serve you anymore and concentrate on the present moment because ‘now’ is all we will ever have.

If you are the sort of person who is compelled to do a post round review then make sure your review contributes positively to your confidence. Regardless of how you have played or scored, identify and vividly recall two things you did well and consider one thing you could do a little better next time.