When do you play your best?

Last evening I shot one of my best back nines, a 42.

My playing partners were from another chapter so it was our first time playing together, and they were teasing me, in a nice way, that I hit every fairway and striped my second shots routinely. The front nine was a bit more of a struggle due to a hand injury but after a few holes when the pain settled, my game kicked in.

Consistency isn't something amateur golfers typically own but yesterday, even my sand shots were tight to the pin. I reflected on the round as the game continued, recognizing that the course was in great condition, it wasn't a competition so there was no reason to be nervous, the weather was absolutely perfect... yet I concluded that it was the energy of my encouraging and joyful playing partners that made all the difference.

It's easy to perform your best when you feel safe, seen, and supported.

But here's the thing. You can't always choose your playing partners.

Some days the conditions line up. The weather is perfect, your crew is in sync, your head is clear, and you flow. Those days feel like magic.

But what about the days they don't?

Because circumstances will railroad you. Inclement weather. A misaligned crew. That argument from this morning still running in the background like a program you forgot to close. The weight of playing to someone else's expectations instead of just letting yourself play.

Your nervous system doesn't know the difference between a real threat and a stressful thought. It responds the same way to both. Dr. Joe Dispenza's research shows that when we replay a stressful event in our minds, our body produces the same stress chemistry as if it's happening right now. You're not just remembering the slow foursome ahead of you. You're re-living it, shot by shot.

So how do you reset when you can't control the conditions?

Four simple moves. (Do not confuse simple with easy.)

Notice you've been hijacked. The moment you catch yourself spiraling, that's awareness. And awareness, as we know, is the doorway to all change.

Breathe before you swing. One slow exhale activates your parasympathetic nervous system, the one responsible for calm and clear thinking. Your frontal lobe, where your best decisions live, comes back online. Science calls it physiological regulation. You can just call it a reset.

Choose one small action you can control. Your grip. Your stance. Your next sentence. Returning your focus to what's in your hands pulls you out of the story your mind is running and back into the present moment. That's where your best performance lives.

Arrive before you arrive. Days before, give yourself time to envision a magnificent experience. Get emotionally excited. Feel strong and expansive before you've even walked in the door. Love and positive energy carry a far wider field than worry, and energy is contagious.

Aha! ~ You don't need perfect conditions to perform at your best. You need the awareness to notice when you've drifted, and one deliberate breath to come home.

The conditions will never be perfect on the outside. But you can create your own perfection on the inside.

Choose presence.

Golf teaches us so many life lessons! Email [email protected] for the zoom link to join our Momentum Accelerator call 2:00 pm eastern Tuesday and get essential tips on setting the stage for your best experiences.