The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

As a Motivational “mind power” Speaker and LPGA Teaching Professional, I do corporate golf outings quite often. This August I worked with the Saturday Series private outing for the PGA TOUR and Golf Channel, at Great River Golf Club in CT. The Saturday Series Pro-Am features pros who participated in the week’s PGA TOUR event but did not qualify for the final two rounds. Proceeds from the Saturday Series Pro-Am benefit charities throughout North America. Hallberg Golf Productions, which produces the Saturday Series Pro-Am, in partnership with participating TOUR events, has raised $2.4 million for the many benefiting charities. I felt honored that they asked me to be a part of this great event.

I was brought in to do the morning clinic in the company of one or two of the PGA Tour Professionals that were there. So while Ted Purdy and Tom Purnice were hitting balls during the clinic, I was speaking of the mind power aspects of what they were doing (and ultimately thinking). While most golfers expect some last minute “technical” advice before they go out and play, this message was the opposite, “think less, feel more!” Instead of giving them more to think about, and even more for their left brain (conscious thinking) to process, this message was more of a right brain concept (or visual and feel). Even Ted and Tom jumped on board with me when they saw the direction I was heading. I think they were both relieved to talk more about visualization, than a technical swing thought, especially before there are going out to play.

As the clinic progressed and Ted and Tom were going through their pre-shot routines, I talked about the power of the mind to visualize. Most Professionals do use visualization, but most amateurs do not. What happened next was truly wonderful.

As Ted was listening to me and realized he didn’t have to talk about his swing’s technical aspects, he spoke of his wonderful run of playing great golf. It was his swing thought (that had nothing to do with golf) that put him into a peaceful state of mind. He said during his pre-shot routine and while he was actually hitting the ball, he would say to himself, “I love the beaches in Hawaii”. He then showed everyone, and it was nothing short of poetic! As I looked around at the crowd that gathered for the clinic, there were smiles on everyone’s faces. People were glowing in amazement. It was like everyone had the “aha” moment together! I heard, “oh, I like the beaches in Hawaii, that might work for me”, and “that’s an interesting thought, I might try that”.

Then Tom Pernice jumped on board and added his thoughts for his pre-shot routine. He had heard that Vijay uses “seven-teen” when he swings, so Tom said he tried it, liked it, and uses it sometimes. He likes the two syllables for an easy transition to the back and forward swing. Tom modeled the “seven-teen” swing to the group with ease and fluidity. I then heard someone in the crowd say, “I’m gonna use that today, that’s good!”

What always strikes me differently when I do these mind power clinics is “the kid in a candy store” effect. You know, the excitement you felt as a kid when you walked into your favorite Five and Dime candy store (okay, I am dating myself a bit, those are long gone). That’s what happens when golfers get a thought that strikes a cord with them or resonates to something they can do immediately. It’s the thought of, “I can do that” or “yes, that’s good for me”. Usually a new technical concept takes time for your conscious and subconscious mind to agree that it will work. But when it’s immediate, it’s usually an easy to thought to ingest, that’s most likely non-technical.

Here is the bottom line:

Because your conscious mind is the “analyzer and criticizer”, and your subconscious is the “non-critical computer-like acceptor” you may notice a conflict at times. Your conscious mind gives the “yes or no” to your subconscious mind. In golf, your conscious mind is the one telling you whether you can make the three foot putt or not. Your subconscious mind will believe whatever you tell it. As an example, if after a few times of missing the three-footer (versus making it) you told yourself, “I’m such an idiot, I keep missing that putt”. Now your subconscious mind will remind you that “you’re an idiot” every time you have that putt. You will miss the three foot putt over and over again… until you change your programming!

Mind Power is the ability and power to change your thoughts. Visualization is fastest way to do this. Most people think visualization is strictly an eye concept. It’s much more than just seeing.

We have five senses:

1. visual (see)
2. auditory (hear)
3. kinesthetic (touch)
4. olfactory (smell)
5. gestation (taste)

Of the five senses, the top three are most used in sports. Some athletes use four or even five of them. I knew a guy when I was competing in racquetball that would smell the ball before each serve! (Notice how many senses he used.) He would hold the blue racquetball in his left hand, bring it right up against his nose, take a big whiff in (as if he was getting a high from it), glare at his opponent, bounce the ball once or twice and serve. Talk about getting in the zone! He stayed ranked in the top ten for many years. (You have to find what works for you!)

Tapping into the subconscious

Okay, back to the Saturday Series. After lunch I offered a Mind Power Reprogramming session to everyone at the event. Those who attended were ready to open their minds to a different way of thinking, after hearing me at the clinic in the morning. Most of them had never done any form of meditation or hypnosis, and were curious how to better develop their mind power. First I needed to dispel the myth that all hypnosis is “stage hypnosis”, which is what most people believe. Here are actually three variations of hypnosis:

1. Stage hypnosis is when subjects are asked to say or perform things that will entertain the audience.
2. Highway hypnosis is a mental state in which you can drive great distances, with no recollection of having consciously doing so.
3. Therapeutic hypnosis is when the subject is encouraged to see themselves as what they want to become, like an improved golfer, or non-smoker.

As in any business, building rapport is the best way to build trust and further communication. It was important for me to explain to the group what I was going to do, in order to gain their trust in me. The mind power techniques I use are a combination of educating, enlightening and empowering my subjects. If I were to just hypnotize people, that wouldn’t educate or enlighten them into what was going to be “their own mind power”. It’s a concept of “going to, happening, happened”. It is the education of becoming aware of what is, what will be and what was.

So after I relaxed their conscious minds and infused their subconscious with the “lemon visualization”, they were ready to enter the mind power experience. During my sessions I usually play a combination of ocean sounds mixed with gentle music that helps promote relaxation into a nice place of tranquility. The more the conscious mind relaxes and lets go, the more open the subconscious mind accepts the messages being given.

When the session was over and I brought them out of hypnosis there was a gentle calm in the air. They were told, “take a deep breath in, stretch your arms, and open your eyes when you are ready”. As each of them slowly came back into the room, back to their conscious state of mind, there was a mystical softness across their faces. You see while they were completely relaxed, listening to my voice, my words provided them with inclusive love, without limitation. The highest emotion any human can feel is love. When you are brought to a state of love, everything else in accepted.

Bringing them to that “place of love”, mind power principles are welcome and acknowledged. Thoughts like appreciating your own personal gifts, allowing love into your life, feeling a sense of gratitude, and being able to forgive were suggestions they might accept. What each of them took away from the experience is their own to keep, nurture and hopefully continue to cultivate.

“I love the beaches in Hawaii” might have a little more meaning now. Three of the six words can create a positive visual experience. Try it, you might like it!

Remember: The mind once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Below is a letter I received from John Goutell of the Saturday Series after the event about his experience.

Randy,

Thank you. It takes somebody who is very confident of their abilities to work comfortably in the loose structure we prefer at our events. We thought the clinic was very well received, both by the guests and the TOUR professionals. I will be telling people about the things I learned from listening to you and Ted Purdy interact. I will also be trying those things out myself. That was top notch stuff.

I think you opened doors in each of us that we didn’t know existed. I know everyone was impressed.

We had a couple of cool experiences yesterday evening and traveling today. We joked as we drove home from the airport that we feel like super heroes (I’m “Positive Magnet Man”).

Please call me after your week up at the Duetsch Bank working with —–. I would like to hear how that goes, and we’d like to talk about putting together some options that will allow us to offer our clients the opportunity to integrate your program into their event.

We all enjoyed meeting you and it was truly a pleasure working with you. We wish you the best of success, and look forward to the chance to work with you in the future.

All the Best,

John

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