Just because you believe it - doesn't mean it's true

Just because you believe it – doesn’t mean it’s true CAN you think of something that you USED to believe in that you just don’t believe anymore? Father Christmas is the obvious one for me that was once an absolute certainty that unfortunately just doesn’t work for me anymore, much as I wish it would!

The ‘tooth fairy’ never quite cut it for me though and I never was fortunate enough to get any money under my pillow after a visit to the dentist. I have believed SO many things during the course of my life that now seem faintly ridiculous.

I did passionately believe that aerobic training… running lots of miles on the running machine in the gym would keep me healthy and fit. Now it turns out running lots of miles at low intensity COULD actually make my heart weaker and make me put on weight. (See the thoughts of the well-respected Dr Al Sears on the internet).

Some cherished former beliefs can just come CRASHING down around you as a result of new evidence. For example: * What do you believe is required to take your game forwards this season? * What do you believe that you need to do to get your handicap down?

Of course, beliefs are personal and it is imperative that you find out and believe in something that works for you. The belief in hours of practice has worked for Vijay Singh, whose relentless hours on the range led to him claiming several Majors and nudging Tiger Woods temporarily off the world No spot.

Yet on the other hand Colin Montgomerie has been one of Europe’s most successful golfers ever without feeling the need to spend hour after hour beating balls down at the range.

The first thing to do with your beliefs is to actually CHALLENGE them and then frankly ask yourself if what you are doing is really helping your game. Then make a plan to either stick to your beliefs and work with them or install some changes.

Asking yourself some good questions about your beliefs is always an interesting and beneficial exercise. Try these following golf-related questions on for size and see how they MAY affect your thinking:
* When you played your best ever round of golf did you have MORE than ONE swing thought?
* Is the amount of time that you spend working on your short game lkely to reduce your scores?
* Does what you do on the practice range in ANY way simulate what will happen on the course?
* Do you HAVE to react the way that you do when you hit a poor shot?
* How much time do you spend focussing on things that you have absolutely NO control over whatsoever?
* Do you ever set out with the INTENTION of actually enjoying the game?
* Would it be a good idea to stick with ONE coach this year? * Is feeling nervous a bad thing or is it just a feeling?
* If you only had ONE more round of golf to play in your life how would you approach that day?
* Where have you NEVER played before that you COULD play this year?

Just a few questions that may have some impact on your beliefs and possibly give you a fresh perspective on what your game is about.

All belief changes start with a question…..(can Santa REALLY get around to EVERY house in the world when it takes five days to get a letter from Southampton?!) As you begin to use good questions you will either REINFORCE useful beliefs or be able to CHANGE limiting beliefs. How useful might that be?