DR. BRETT’S THOUGHTS:
In February, my girlfriend and I attended the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club here in Los Angeles. We followed Sergio Garcia’s group for most of the final round. I kept whispering in my girlfriend’s ear that Sergio, a top ten golfer in the world, was going to find a way to lose; which he did. I wasn’t being pessimistic or picking on Sergio. I was merely observing his attitude throughout the round and knew he wasn’t going to get it done. Instead of staying positive and upbeat he seemed constantly irritated and tense long before he choked on the seventeenth hole by snap hooking the ball off the tee and then three putting on the green.
Sergio’s attitude has been suspect on and off for years. Having the right attitude – staying positive and spirited no matter what – goes along way in sports, business, and life. The good news is that our attitude is something we can constantly work on and improve. Staying positive, as we all know, isn’t always easy and yet the more we exercise, meditate, and practice mindfulness (nonjudgmental focus of attention on our thoughts, feelings, and behavior) the better it gets. So improve your attitude and watch your life (game) improve.
