Golf - The Game & The Inner Game

Golf - The Game & The Inner Game

“Life is a game. Play it.” Master says.

As a fauji kid, sports and games were integral to my student days, though 'studies #1 priority (for parents)'. I played basketball ?? (I am 168 cm 'tall'), football, table tennis, badminton, and even kabbadi. But not tennis or golf!

As I played tennis a little at school, I know the rules. I have followed the game closely with Borg, McEnroe, Connors, and Vijay, as well as players from the current generation.

As for Golf, I did not understand the game and rules. Did not get to try to learn would be more appropriate.

Initially, I associated tennis & golf with '???? ???, ???? ????'. Till I discovered coaching and the inner game. Sir John Whitmore gives credit to the inner game in his popular book on coaching and leadership, "Coaching for Performance." He and Tim Gallwey have inspired an entire generation of professional coaches. Both books are mandatory reads in our ICF coach training and certification.

I don’t play golf. ?? I have friends who are golfers. ??? All passionate golfers. Aren't all golfers passionate about the game? :)

“Meet the ball where it is.” (courtesy Tram Venkatraman )

... a metaphor we often use in coaching -meet the client where s/he is. Partner with them to move towards their (SMART, PURE & CLEAR) goals and then to 'their potential, personal & professional.' (ICF)

‘Professionals can do their best work when they don’t feel like it.’ - Self 2?

Inner Game is about Self 1 and Self 2. In his book, The Inner Game of Tennis, Timothy Gallwey introduces us to Self 1 and Self 2.

  1. Self 1 can be thought of as the ego-based, cognitive mind. It's always thinking, always commenting, and incredibly judgmental.
  2. Self 2 is the subconscious, intuitive part of us beyond the 'monkey mind.' For me, it is the higher consciousness (Hi C, as we use in healing.)

For example, in cricket, “Stay still at the precise moment that the ball is being delivered.” Not a second early or late.

Great players like Sachin Tendulkar have said they look at the bowler till the ball is delivered (Self 1). Once the ball leaves the bowler, he lets go of all his thoughts and plays. (Self 2)

Perhaps players like Sehwag, Srikanth, SKY all play mostly in that mode :) But that attacking game is subtly different from playing from Self 2.

I am more fascinated by this equation: Potential - Interference = Performance.

How do we handle the interference?

"The asanas are but a small part of yoga, their purpose is only, as Iyengar puts it, ‘to render the body a vehicle, fit for the soul.’ If you fall in love with an element, then you might never see the whole. Stop playing golf swing. It’s?the game that deserves your attention."

"Coaching is bigger than coaching." - Sir John Whitmore

Life is a game... play it! Play from Self 2, by choice.


Read this brilliant piece by @Meraj Shah on Mint - 'It’s?not perfect,?far from it.?But it’s?your swing.' says the author.




Regal Unlimited

ICF Approved Level 1 & 2 Coach Training & Certification for ACC, PCC & CCE - Leader as Coach - Regal Coach Certification (RCC) - Coaching Unlimited : The Coaching School for the World

1 年

the inner game

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R S Rajagopalan

ICF Certified Executive Coach. Management Consultant

1 年

I am a crazy golfer too....I completely echo what you have said....its so true and so relevant

Venugopal C, Ph.D.

Author, Consultant , Coach MD & CEO at Krysalis Consultancy Services .

1 年

Golf is an appropriate metaphor for life. It is a game, to be played mostly alone, with fellow players who are better or worse than you. There would be hazards that can be overcome. There is a progression from beginning to end..some take longer at intermediate points, some race through them. All have to stop at the last hole. And then start again.. It is worth the effort only if the fun is in the play and not in the win..

Hari Das Nair

CHRO, Executive Vice President, Passionate Influencer, Strategy Advisor to Top Leadership Team, Practicing Professional - OD, HR, ER, IR, IT

1 年

Great

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