Mental Force, FOCUS, the Power of Attention and Rapid Personal Change

[Dr Ray]

Focus is about paying attention to things that matter most.

The goal is to clear your mind of clutter, focus on what's most
important and do what it takes for successful outcomes.

In all activities, especially golf, you need specific goals and a
strategy for getting there - or the game is little more than a flurry
of uncoordinated, frustrating shots.

Let's see how the focusing process becomes Mental Force. (This gets a
bit heavy, so hang in there)

Jeffery Swartz, professor of psychiatry at the University of
California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, is advancing psychiatry
and psychology toward new findings in quantum physics and
neuroscience.

In his book, "The Mind and the Brain" he discusses "Mental Force" and
argues persuasively that "mindfully directed attention" is the key to
neuroplastic changes in the cortex.

He further argues, the "power of attention" not only allows us to
choose what mental action we will take, but also allows us, by
actively focusing attention on one rivulet in the stream of
consciousness, to change - in scientifically demonstrable ways - the
systematic functioning of our own neural circuitry."

That's quite a mouthful, so let's do a little interpretation.

Dr. Swartz is saying we can actually change our brains.

Take golf for example. When you practice your golf swing, repeating
the motion over and over, your brain actually adapts to the process,
creating neuro-pathways designed to facilitate ease of repetition of
that same movement later on.

Simply put, a practiced behavior becomes a performance habit. It
becomes a habit you have willfully developed, making personal change
the result of specific choices you have made, as you exercise your
capacity for self-navigation.

For those Group Members who have gone to www.Tool4Change.com and taken
the PCI, you are clear how important FOCUS is to rapid personal
change, just as it is to enhanced golf performance.

For those who have not yet taken the PCI and may want to, just e-mail
me and I will send you the appropriate and needed Access Code.

Mental Golf and Sport Psychology is about YOU and everything you do
well. A better game of golf is one outcome. More importantly, you
are sharpening self-mastery skills essential to personal excellence in
all aspects of your life, on and off the course.

As always, e-mail me with your comments and questions, advancing the
discussion to new levels of exploration.

Dr. Ray