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Experiencing Non-Thinking

By Michael Anthony

When I work with a golfer, I always ask: "What are you thinking about when you are performing at your best?" The answer is always the same: "I'm not thinking." They are operating on instinct. If you ask yourself that same question, I'll bet your answer will be the same: "I'm not thinking when I perform at my best."

In spite of the above, I get emails asking me: "How does one forget about the outcome - or accomplish such a 'I couldn't care less about the outcome' state when I want to win, birdie, par, look good, or whatever? Some part of me always knows I really do want to win. Pretend you don't want to win and you'll win? Doesn't sound like something you would agree with? So why does reading your book or listening to your CD every time I play help me enter this 'hoot less' state?"

It's not that you care less about the outcome, but you greatly increase your probability of success to achieve the outcome you desire by not thinking about it. Just expect to be successful if everything goes right, trust your triangle and focus on seeing the ball being hit without thinking about the outcome. Another way to increase your probability of success is to take lessons and work on improving your mechanics so you don't have to think about them while you are playing.

The ability to clear your mind of all thoughts takes time and mental training to accomplish. It has taken me years to be able to accomplish this and I'm still working at it because thoughts still pop up. When they do, I talk to myself, tell my thoughts to go away and then go about my business without thinking about the outcome.

I don't make all of my shots, but I make a lot of them. The one's that I don't make, I don't worry about because I'm not perfect and I'm willing to allow the outcome to happen - good or bad. Then I learn from the feedback how to improve. This process works for me and will work for you.

It's impossible to explain to your mind the experience of being in the present without thinking about the outcome because your mind's job is to think. It's your spirit that experiences non-thinking. It took Eugen Herrigel, the author of "Zen in the Art of Archery," six years of Zen training to experience the experience of non-attachment to the outcome.

Michael Anthony's Unique Mental Training Program, The Mental Keys to Improve Your Golf,
Guarantees to Lower Your Score by Improving Your Mental Game