#29. The Art and Science of Acceptance to Accelerate Progress

Imagine starting your round with a triple bogey… In most cases, letting this poor start set the tone for the day is easy, ultimately leading to a poor round and less-than-enjoyable experience. But what if you could weather the tough start and go on to play one of the best rounds of your life? Acceptance empowers you to do just that. Acceptance in this scenario means acknowledging the rough start without letting it dictate the rest of your round. It allows you to reset your mindset, focus on one shot at a time, and potentially recover with better play on subsequent holes. In today's episode, you'll learn more about the power of acceptance on the golf course, specifically, how cultivating an acceptance practice can accelerate results and improve your performance. I'll discuss acceptance and how it differs from avoidance, share several direct benefits of practicing acceptance on the course, dig into what the research says about acceptance and high performance, and also discuss how to begin practicing acceptance on and off the course. Start listening. P.S. If you're interested in learning more about how mindset coaching and hypnotherapy can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance on (and off) the course, click here to schedule a coaching discovery call with me. Key Points: Acceptance is the practice of acknowledging and allowing thoughts, feelings, or outcomes without resisting or trying to change them. Acceptance helps golfers stay calm, focused, and resilient, regardless of the outcome. Practicing acceptance reduces stress, improves mental resilience, and increases confidence. Acceptance enhances enjoyment of the game and allows golfers to play more freely and instinctively. Practical tips for applying acceptance include using breathwork, focusing on one shot at a time, and maintaining positive self-talk. Key Quotes: "Acceptance is the mental practice of acknowledging and embracing each moment of your round without judgment or resistance, allowing you to stay calm, focused, and resilient regardless of outcomes." "It is a principle, a concept that will absolutely accelerate your progress to shooting lower scores." "Acceptance in this scenario means acknowledging the rough start, the poor hold, the mistake, the poor outcome without letting it dictate the remainder of your round." "Acceptance doesn't mean passivity or timidness. It's about staying mentally engaged and confident in your ability to recover and perform regardless of what the game, the round, the hole throws at you." Subscribe to the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter. This newsletter helps double-digit golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds so that they can shoot more pars than bogeys. Each week, I'll provide insights, principles, and strategies to help you deter distractions, find your focus, manage your emotions, and cultivate boundless confidence so that you can play to your potential. Subscribe now . Grab my free hypnosis audio to help you prepare to play your best round. Download it here . Schedule a 1-1 mindset coaching discovery and strategy call with me - click here . For feedback, questions, or to take me out for a round of golf, shoot me an email or connect with me on social media: Instagram: @scratchgolfermindset Twitter: @parsoverbogeys LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching Time Stamps: 00:00: The Power of Acceptance 08:00: Acceptance and Confidence 16:21: Acceptance and Performance 23:31: Practical Tips for Practicing Acceptance