“You’ll Get Out Of It What You Put Into It”

A topic that often comes up when I’m discussing improvement with students is the idea of motivation. Many people want change, but they may not be willing at this time to put effort into making change occur. A wonderful quote was said to me many years ago: “You’ll get out of it what you put into it,” meaning that the more one puts effort into acquiring change, the greater chance they have of reaping the fruits of their labor.

Change and the motivation to change can be so hard, whether its to lose weight and increase one’s fitness levels, to stop smoking, or to create a new habit in one’s daily routine. Of course, it can be exceptionally challenging to ignite change in your golf swing once you have established a pattern over years of play. How does one become motivated to change?

All too often we want the end result of the change (i.e. a better golf game) but may not be quite so motivated to put in the work to accomplish the goals to meet that change. It is important to assess your level of motivation for change as this can help cut down on frustration. For example, if you want to stop slicing the ball and know that you need to create a new motor pattern for an inside to out club path, but never want to hit balls on the driving range to improve that pattern, then your level of motivation is incongruent with your goals.

A Lesson is Not Enough

Taking a lesson to learn how to make the change is a wonderful first step. Yet, just the one-time learning experience is not enough to create a sustainable pattern that will show up the next time you head out to play with your golf group.

If your motivation is high, then you will set up a performance plan that includes practice, drills, experimenting on the golf course, and coaching from a trusted professional. If you feel your motivation is low, perhaps a different strategy should be implemented because the motivation to do what it takes to make the change to stop slicing the shot is not high.

Having a congruent mindset in motivation along with your goals will allow for the greater chance for change. This means that you understand what it takes to accomplish your goals, and you are committed to doing the work to accomplish the process.

For example, the golfer who commonly slices and is highly motivated to change that would make a commitment to swing a club at home for at least 5 minutes a day to work a new swing path into the memory. Perhaps adding in 30 minutes of ball striking two times a week matches up with your plan.

Formulating Your ‘How to Get Motivated’ Plan

So how do you get motivated if you really want change but are struggling with the process of change in your game?

• Formulating a clear plan is a good start to building a blueprint for your motivation.
• Map out the days and times that work for your lifestyle to practice your skills to make the change.
• Add these dates and times into your calendar so you are constantly aware of what you will do to achieve your goals.
• Add visuals around your living space of the goals you wish to achieve. For example, if you are striving to win your club’s championship, put a picture of that trophy on your refrigerator, so every time you walk by it you are reminded of what you are working towards.
• Lastly, keep a motivation journal. Grab a notebook where you can track your daily progress towards your golfing goals, note practice sessions, write down your mood and attitudes toward the work you are doing. Include pictures of the things you wish to achieve as a constant motivator and reminder.

If you want to change your game-ask yourself how much time and effort are you willing to put into that change? If it’s minimal, then you may want to reassess your goals and time allotted for the change in order to lower your frustration. If your motivation for change is high, then you have a greater chance of sticking to a practice plan in order to reach your goals. Ensure that your motivation is congruent with your goals and that you develop and execute a motivation plan in order to see positive changes occur in your game.

If you see it, you can achieve it!

Alison