Mental Game Golf

4 WAYS TO SILENCE YOUR INNER CRITIC

You’ve heard it before. It’s that annoying voice that seems to pop up just in time to throw you off your golf game. Maybe it happens when you stand over the ball on the first tee or when staring at a 3-foot downhill birdie putt. Maybe it happens when you’re going for a par 5 in two over water. We’ve all heard this intruder and we’ve all been influenced by it.

It’s very distracting and it causes you to lose energy, focus and confidence.

Who is this critic and who invited him or her to the party anyway?

The inner critic is a part of all of us and it doesn’t need an invitation, does it? "That wasn’t good enough", "This won’t work", "You can’t hit that shot", "Yes, the ball went where you wanted it to but that swing was lousy", "John’s using a 7-iron and you’re using a 5-iron…you’re kidding me!" and on and on the critic goes.

Self-criticism often turns into a personal attack and when it gets personal it can negatively influence your game big time.

Here are 4 things to consider so you can quiet the critic inside you:

1. It’s a recording –The critic inside you is nothing more than a recording that’s been played and replayed over time. Imagine your brain as being like a VCR. It’s been recording this "critical voice" for quite some time and it plays automatically.

2. It’s only 1 part—The "inner critic" is only one part of you; it’s not ALL of you! If it’s the loudest part of you, it’s only because you’ve paid more attention to it. Five cloudy days doesn’t mean the sun isn’t in the sky anymore does it?

3. Talk Back!—Who says your inner critic is the definitive expert on anything? It’s not! Once you see it for what it is you can TALK BACK to it. What about what you ARE doing well? What about what you ARE CAPABLE OF? Focus on these and you won’t have to battle with your inner critic.

4. It’s NOT Personal!—Watch your inner dialogue. Be wary of the word "I" as in, "I’m no good", "I’m an idiot!" These comments are taken personally and when it gets personal; it gets harder to change! Change the word "I" to the word "That". The statement now becomes "That was a bad shot" or "That was a poor decision". This removes you from taking it personally.