Posts under ‘Motivational’

1. Adaptability

   One day the golf course may have no wind, while another day there may be 10 mph winds. Although it is the same course, players must be flexible and adapt to new conditions.

2. Process is longer and more exciting rather than the end result

   It is important to value the process, rather than the result. Dr. Joe Parent, author of Zen golf, said that if you focus on each shot and the process, the result will come.

1. Ability to recover

   Golf is a challenging sport. One small mistake can make your ball go into the worst places. Successful professional golfers are not perfect players. However, they are able to recover quickly. Life is all about making mistakes, learning from them, and recovering.

2. Practice

   I saw many professional golfers practice the morning of the tournament. After four hours of playing competitive golf, they head right back to the practice grounds. Practicing does make perfect.

3. Proper nutrition

   As with any athletes, proper nutrition is a must. I constantly saw the golfers hydrating themselves and taking in healthy nutrients (banana, protein bars). This allows them to sustain a high performance level.

Recently I had the opportunity to go to the Northern Trust Open held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. Here are five personal development tips that I witnessed at the tournament.

1. Good sportsmanship

   Golf is a unique sport in that although you are individually competing against one another, you are also cheering each other on. It is really great to hear players commending other players on their great golf shots. Good sportsmanship can be applied to non-sports activities as well. At work or at home, working together, supporting each other, all are great values and can help you succeed.

“It took me fifteen years to discover that I had o talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous.”-Robert Benchley

1. Focus on your goal

   It is important to constantly remind yourself of your goals and your plan in achieving them. Perseverance is about reminding yourself of what you really want in life. Sir Isaac Newton was asked how he discovered the law of gravity and he replied, “By thinking about it all the time.”

1. Identify the desired result

   Write out things you are passionate about. Ask yourself: What do you want to do? Why do you want to do it? What makes you happy?

2. Determine the skills

   List skills that you will need to achieve your career. If you are going to become a physician you will need to take pre-med courses, attend medical school, complete residency. Others may pick a completely different career path. Perhaps you want to be a professional musician in which you need to practice daily, perform, network with entertainment, create demos, find a agent, etc.

1. Awareness

   Become aware of your feelings and behaviors.

2. Responsibility

   Take responsibility of your emotions and responses

3. Attitude

   How you approach a situation will greatly influence your success or failure. If you have a positive attitude good things will happen.

4. Self-Talk

   You have the choice on what you say to yourself. This will determine how you think and feel.

5. Responsibility over others

   Don’t take responsibility for other people or things you cannot change and don’t have control over.

6. Resources

   Have a stable support system that encourages positive changes in your life.

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion when expressed appropriately. First step is understanding the feelings of anger. The following are feelings that lead to intense level of anger. The first 11 are emotional responses, while the proceeding 9 are physical responses to anger.

1. Uneasy- nervousness, restlessness

2. Uncomfortable- not feeling stable

3. Withdrawn- not wanting to talk to anyone

4. Irritated- frustration

5. Agitated- another form of irritation

6. Annoyed- upset/frustrated about something or someone

7. Upset- sad, mix of uncomfortable emotions

8. Mad- intense angry emotions

9. Angry