Chatter, chatter, chatter!
How do you manage your inner voice?
I’m curious - is there ever a time that negative, inner voice is helpful?
On a bad day I’m my own worst critic as “should’ve / could’ve / would’ve’s” creep in, soon followed by a metaphorical bash on the head, or a gentle poke in the ribs.
And as I overthink a past misdemeanour or missed opportunity, it doesn’t help me concentrate on the now, let alone the future.
Whether working on my coaching business or simply playing golf – I confess, it’s usually lurking somewhere, ready to critique a bad drive or a missed putt.
Tim Galwey , an early influencer of coaching, wrote in The Inner Game of Golf about Self 1 and Self 2; Where Self 2 is the total person living the life and Self 1 is our own worst critic or know-all expert, ready to second guess us and undermine our confidence and concentration.
He explained that by allowing Self 2 to learn and thrive, whilst minimising the interference from Self 1, performance improved.
So when I’m playing my best golf, the bad shots don't worry me; I shrug them off and head to the next tee with a spring in my step thinking about all the potential opportunity and joy of the next hole. After all, playing even bad golf is a gift not a chore!
I’d love to know how you help manage your inner chatter.
