Focusing on Learning Vs Results

There is subtle but profound difference between how we approach improvement or progress in any given activity. In my opinion, society in general has been predominantly trained to create and chase results and productivity to the point now where we’re struggling to keep up. This leads to burnout and overall frustration. Not to mention without a support network, inevitable catastrophe.

Golf is a very challenging game that requires a lot of knowledge, experience, and understanding in order to be proficient. The player that is willing to learn and absorb themselves in a learning process, will ultimately retain and thus execute more consistently. The goal is to learn, test, experience, and grow; not to win, achieve, or self proclaim.

You can control whether or not you show up to learn something, but you can’t control results with anything. The “happening” of life is a result of process, routine, and habits, based on your understanding and implementation. A strong desire for results doesn’t get anyone any closer to creating that result, without a committed process and action. Great ideas without action don’t come to fruition. At the same time, actions don’t guarantee a future result. All you can do is show up, learn, grow, and move on. Having hope and faith and the occasional deep breath can carry you through life’s challenges.

Worrying about what’s next is a natural instinct for survival, so eliminating that altogether isn’t productive if you value living while encountering a saber tooth tiger or grizzly bear lol. In golf, preparing for the next shot can be beneficial for scoring. However, we have to be adaptable. Balancing out order and chaos. Just because your round goes to plan one day, in no way means the next round will be remotely similar. It’s the Yin and the Yang of life.

Life keeps us on our toes. Collateral damage is real, but so is perspective. Underlying truths like gratitude and appreciation transcend most complexities. Absorb the information and adapt as needed. In the end, the results are the same for all of us, but I understand that’s a never ending campfire discussion I’ve had many times that’s worth having lol.

Overall, balancing appreciation of the moment, memories of the past, and thoughts of the future is a natural and healthy approach. It means you care about the people in front of you, behind you, yourself, and future generations to come. Golf, like anything, is a microcosm of life. Your approach should be consistent with anything else you care about. Otherwise, it’s just entertainment, so enjoy yourself regardless and move on.