Be a Goldfish

There’s a lot I love about golf.

Being outside. Hanging with friends. Moving the body in a coordinated effort. The relaxation in the mindfulness and focus of the game.

What I also like is that it’s about playing yourself and the lie of the ball. When you’re on the course, you’re looking for solutions and not dwelling on past mistakes …

Or if you do focus on mistakes, you get stuck in a rut. Every shot is clouded by thinking about the previous shot that didn’t go as planned.

But when you’re able to shake it off and look for solutions, you can get creative and opportunities show up.

I love this quote from the TV show Ted Lasso about a football coach in London:

“You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It’s a goldfish. It’s got a 10 second memory.

Be a goldfish!”

Shake it off and focus on solutions. Here’s some questions I ask myself when I have a bad shot:

• What’s the first sign or clue that you’ll hit a good shot next?

• What has helped you hit good shots in the past and avoid bad ones?

• What did you learn this time that tells you you will do better in the future?

For me, golf is life. Play the ball where it lies. Shake off bad shots (be a goldfish). Learn how each previous shot will help you do better in the future. And draw resilience from past challenges.

Whether it’s playing a sport like golf, managing work or being with family and friends, we all have a bad shot now and then. How do you shake off your bad shots? Let me know your go-to strategy.. Leave a comment below.