It is funny how certain things pop up again and again. The idea of improving my golf game is never far from my thoughts. It is a journey I like to travel and most of the time it can be applied to my regular life. The following words of wisdom fits into these categories and something I believe is important to personal growth.
“People visit a wise man complaining about the same problems over and over again. One day, he decided to tell them a joke and they all roared with laughter.
After a few minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.
Author Unknown
Then he told the same joke for the third time, but no one laughed or smiled anymore.
The wise man smiled and said: ‘You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?’”
This above story is something I have based my golf (and life) journey on. I used to complain all the time about one aspect or another of my game, but one day (about 25 years ago) I had an epiphany that golf will never be fun and I will never get better if I do not change the way I think and approach the game.
I constantly talk about making changes and some are repeated because I have not solved the challenge. But, I hope you never see me complaining over and over again about the same issue. If it is important enough to mention, then it is important enough to make a change.
Over the years I have listen to many golfers complain about their game. Unfortunately many of these players were not willing to make any changes. I believe that it is important to listen to these complaints once or twice, but after that it is a waste of time. If they are not willing to do something about it, then why is it important for me to hear the same complaint; generally, I try to change the subject when they start to get wound up.
Today’s article is not a rant (although it seems to look like one), but a discussion on making changes to our golf game if there is an issue. Sometimes the change required is mental. Acceptance of the situation is a solution to some challenges; especially the ones we have no control over. This particular step may not improve your game, but it will sure help reduce your frustration on the links.
I believe in changing if I have a reoccurring problem. I enjoy the journey of learning and evolving on and off the course. Complaining does help reduce the immediate frustration, but over the long haul only compounds the stress. I personally do not like hearing the same complaint over and over again, so I figure I should not do it either.
Can you think of a situation where you or a friend constantly complain about your golf game? Are you willing to do something about it?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Jim, and then we have to beware of the whiner/sandbagger who complains about his game right up to the point where he makes a wager with you and takes your money after pulling off the “greatest shot of his life” or “the lowest score he ever shot”. Beware! LOL!
Thanks,
Brian
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Absutely, haha. I avoid them as much as possible.
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Yeah, it’s ok to recognize your weaknesses. That’s needed to know what to fix, but complaining about them does you no good at all. Identifying and working on them is fine, but talk yourself up, never down. No matter how bad a game you might be having, you have to stay positive and get past the bad shots or you’re just dooming yourself to more. Just don’t take the positive too far and lie to yourself. That makes things harder too. You need that balance between positive and realistic to play your best.
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Kevin
Exactly, balance is the key. There is a point when too much positive thought causes as much harm as too little. Experience tells us that and it is a fine line we walk some days.
Cheers Jim
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Jim,
This is the post a lot of people need to hear. Many people decide to complain/dwell about their game, when instead that time could be used to fix their it.
“Garbage in, garbage out” is something one of my current professor always says in class, and it’s so true. If one thinks their game is “garbage” and does nothing about it, then it will always be “garbage”, because they won’t put in the effort.
See, I knew staying up until 1 in the morning was worth it. Thanks for sharing!
Sebastien
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Sebastien
Thanks and you are right about the garbage in / garbage out statement. It really is a matter of what we want to achieve and finding a way to do it. Complaining with no effort to address the challenge is a waste of energy!
Cheers Jim
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