I watched the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship today and Michelle Wei winning her first major championship. In fact, for women in golf, this is the top championship. At the 16th hole Michelle Wei had a double boggie. Prior that she had a comfortable 3 shot lead over runner-up Stacy Lewis. Going into the 17th hole many were nervous that Wei may become the Wei of old.
The typical golfer tends to self-destruct after a bad hole like Wei had on the 16th. It turned out that Michelle Wei was not the earlier version. She was focused and had self-control. On the 17th hole she shot a birdie and went up by two going into the final hole. By that time it was clearly a matter of finishing up. She ended 2-putting the 18th after a good drive and won by 2.
Experts in golf will explain that it’s the emotional roller coaster that has to be overcome after making a mistake. If you let a negative event affect the rest of your game, then you’ve lost.
Michelle Wei had amazing self-control. Her game has changed for the better and having this win under her belt will help propel her to many more wins.
Focused concentration is important. Just not in an analytical way. What I mean is not to focus on what you did wrong. Instead, focus on what you do best. When you’re in the game already, it’s hard to make adjustments that set you up for failure. That should have been done in practice.
And speaking of practice, rehearsal under all conditions is important. Especially the mental rehearsal.
There are several things that you can do to help with your mental state and especially self-control…
- Make sure eat a healthy diet that eliminates excess sugars. While our brain needs glucose, too much or too little can have a adverse effect on self-control. Instead, eat high quality, fiber rich foods that help to slow the absorption of sugar. That way your brain will get the right amounts.
- Meditate. A relaxed mind under meditation becomes more focused and in control
- Get plenty of quality sleep. Too much or too little affects the brain. Go for 7 hours as the average.
- Exercise is great for the brain and one’s mindset. And many types of exercise helps to grow the brain as well as increase mental focus.
- Do mental rehearsal. Use visualization and guided imagery to help you accomplish this. This is different than meditation. Meditation is about the empty mind and visualization is filling your mind with mental focus towards a goal.
- Get into a “Flow State” or “in the zone.” Flow is simply that state where everything seems to be working as it should. Joy happens here. It’s when you’re being challenged enough, just not to the point of anxiety. Michael Jordan would smile when the game was on the line with a few seconds left and he had the ball. That is a flow state.
Practice as much as possible. Get to know yourself too. Know your triggers and learn to adjust them so that you’ll get into the best possible mental state. You will eventually get to a point where mistakes are shrugged off and you’ll simply focus what needs to get done.
I wish you success via a good mental state.
Cheers,
Bob Choat, “Transformational Master Black Belt” 
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness
