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I introduced you to the concept of hypnosis for golf in the original Mini-course.

Today, I'd like to give you more detail and instruction on how you can use this for your own golf game. For starters, let me just state that I understand that the word "hypnosis" has all sorts of negative attachments. Most folks get their idea of what it is from stage shows. They see people acting like they normally wouldn't and so it is assumed that the hypnotist has some sort of "control" over them.

This couldn't be further from the truth. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of with a hypnosis session whether you do it for yourself or with help from a professional.

I recently attended the American Board of Hypnotherapy annual conference. I met and learned from some amazing people who all genuinely have only the best interests for their clients' in mind for everything they do. Integrity and ethics are strongly pushed in all seminars and classes.

Milton Erickson, the father of modern hypnosis says that hypnosis is: "concentrating on your thoughts, values, memories and about life. Hypnosis is enhanced suggestibility and it's most effective through imagery.  The Amazing Kreskin, famous mentalist had a longstanding offer to pay $10,000 to anyone who could prove that there was a trance-like state during hypnosis  and no one ever took him up on it. The point in bringing that up is to assure you that there is absolutely nothing to be fearful of from hypnosis.

Ok, enough with that. Let's get on with how this study can help your game.

What I really learned from some very sharp, experienced hypnotherapists is that it isn't always even necessary to induce a relaxed state in order to effect change. What we want to accomplish for golf, off the course, is to find ways to go inside (I mean to go inside our mind with our thoughts). This causes our critical thinking faculty to release it's grip on filtering out things that we want to become part of our way of thinking to grow or improve as a human being.

I'd like you to do an exercise that I know you will benefit from. Read the following questions and pause and think a little between each of them. Read them slowly, one at a time, take your time and let your mind ruminate on the possiblities for your game. Let yourself  "go inside."

In between each question, stare at the spot below or a spot on the wall or close your eyes if you like. Imagine a person you like or admire is reading these questions to you in a pleasing, slow voice. The human voice is a powerful thing.

hypnosis focus

How is my golf game, now?

Why do I like golf so much?

Why do I really want to improve?

I know I possess the ability to reach my scoring goal, don't I?

Where will I find what I need inside myself to score well on my next round?

Do I really want to score lower or do I just want to look good out on the course?

Is it possible that I could gain full control over my emotional states?

Milton Erickson, considered the father of hypnosis and credited with getting the American Medical Association to accept it was famous for helping folks without ever using any props or music or relaxation techniques. He would just tell stories and ask questions You can do this for yourself. When you read a golf article or book, let yourself go "inside" and relate what you are learning to yourself. You see, the object of the game here is to let the information sink down into your unconscious and then come back out when you play. Don't try to analyze everything (that's what I used to do). Just let it go in if you know it's good.

Begin to develop your whole brain by taking in golf information this way. Whether it's from reading or listening to my CD's, or just watching a good golfer on T.V. or at the course.

Many of us, especially men, are very left-brain oriented. That is, logical, rational etc. When we bring in our weaker hemishpere of our brain, more information gets integrated and is retrieved easier later. This is some of what hypnosis is all about. I'll give you more next time.

Keep thinking...and using your whole mind...to allow your strengths to emerge...and manifest on the course.....what you know to be true....about you....

Greens and fairways,

Craig

To continue with the last article, I was discussing becoming more "whole-minded"...

On being analytical like most men... I hear you loud and clear. I used to be totally that way. The good news is that you can turn this around if you want, it's very easy. For starters, I would definitely find some Baroque music and listen to it. Check out this page on my site to become more convinced:
http://www.break80golf.com/musiceffects.html

Before I learned hypnosis, I listened to a Baroque tape every night while falling asleep and did golf visualizations with it in the background. You can do this for anything - like becoming motivated (conquering procrastination).

You might try to participate in more activities that strenthen your weaker side of your brain. If you're a logical, analytical type,  do something in the arts. Push yourself to do things that you normally wouldn't do like watch emotional movies. Listen, really listen to people who are creative and intuitive and get inside their mind from conversations with them, it will rub off.

If you are already a very creative, emotional person, then you could do things like crossword puzzles, read a book about the fundamentals of the swing or course management. Those type of left-brain ideas will help develop your whole golf mind.

To begin to be a whole-mind person, the first step is to really tell yourself that that is what you want to do. Put your full INTENTION into it. Just the thought itself will begin the process. There are many rewards throughout your life to becoming more mind-balanced, you'll see.

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Lately, I've been answering some questions about the difference between using a golf hypnosis tape or recording vs. going to a hypnotist in person.

There's a few things that play into that and whether or not you achieve the outcome you want. First, in person can be much better because the hypnotist interviews you and finds out exactly what it is you need to achieve your goal. Second, something happens inside your mind when you make the effort to seek out a hypnotist in person. YOU Are the one that actually gives more power to having done it in person.

It's our belief, maybe unconsciously, that going to an office and believing that the hypnotherapist has some magic for you that actually activates your mind for change. As a hypnotherapist, we are trained to maximize this effect with all sorts of impressions, language, appearance, image etc. It's all designed to help you help yourself. You see, really truly, the client does all the change work. A hypnotist only helps guide them. It's like climbing Mount Everest. You have to do the climbing but you may need a Sherpa guide to help you find the best way. You may find your way on your own but a guide will definitely help.

All sorts of things are happening inside of us at our unconscious level that we're not aware of. This is what a hypnotist studies and tries to help activate for positive change for a client.

If you just buy a tape, it was not created with YOU in mind. There may be suggestions that are totally useless, maybe even harmful to your golf game. This is why I haven't created such a generic recording as of yet. I am now testing the idea of creating personalized recordings from what golfers tell me in an email interview. Some of my members are participating in that and so far are returning very good results.

For now, the best product on the market in this area, especially for golf is made by Subconscious Training Corp. This is because it has multiple modules that you can choose from depending on what you know you need for your game. I highly recommend it.

It is my intention to make hypnosis a part of every golfer's learning experience as part of their lessons with a pro. I am putting together a business plan to teach golf pros how to incorporate this into their business for the average golfer. If you are a pro and are interested, let me know.

As always, you can reply to any email I send you. I'd love to hear your comments on this topic.

Greens and fairways,

Craig

I just got back to playing once a week after having a 3-month layoff.  I was wondering what it would be like after not having struck a golf ball or not even thinking about my own game much over that time. Yes, I've been working with others on their games and issues but my own got sort of left in the dust as I used my spare time to research further into the workings of the mind and how it can benefit us busy folks.

I went out to my local home course and was surprised to find that my swing was pretty much where I left it! I used my go-to shot off the tee not even thinking about distance and took out more club on approaches than I would have when I was warmed up and playing my best before the layoff. This proved a good formula as I kept the ball in play the whole time. I will admit to a few topped and fat shots but overall, I couldn't complain.

Did I have a great score? No, but what did I do? I took what was working and forgot about the rest. And then worked my mental magic on what was working until my next round. It's a simple formula yes, but it does take one word that is quickly becoming my favorite word: intention.

Intention? What the heck is that?

Some of you may call it effort but I don't. Some may call it work but that doesn't have to be it either. Is it focus, or concentration? Nope.

It's a blend of belief, imagination, direction and utilization between your conscious and unconscious mind functions. What's really intriguing is that it does not require willpower. That's right, according to Maxwell Maltz in Psychocybernetics, willpower actually implies putting up blockages to achievement. A better way to describe how to find your best game, your best shots is to "let them happen"

I know, I know, this sounds kind of spacey right? Especially in light of all the traditional teaching you've been exposed to that says you need a swing instructor and you must practice what you've learned until your body aches and your hands blister.

I just read in the May 06 an article by Tiger Woods called "I did it. So can you" In it, he basically writes about how he made changes to his swing and then worked his tail off to make them work. He says that you need a strong will. In making his first swing change in 1997, he can remember practicing a single move "swinging the club halfway down - keeping my arms in front of my body - for more than an hour without hitting a ball. I felt like my arms were going to fall off"

Give me a break. Tiger is the greatest golfer in the world, no doubt, but he is on another planet if he thinks average golfers are going to do that for every small part of their swing even if they do have access to a top instructor who can break it down like that and monitor their progress and prescribe that kind of detailed help. For a pro, yes, that's great advice, for you and me, it's not realistic at all.

Given the realities of our normal life we need another way. This is what I talk about in my program "Without Practice"

The Online Golf Classics library has all the fundamentals you need, your mind already has INTENTION waiting for you to use it.

Greens and fairways,

Craig