Evolution of the human mind

Last year I completed a specialist course in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT - link), an innovative and profoundly effective approach to psychology based on the fourth wave of cognitive behavioural science.

For me, understanding how the mind works is an important step in getting to know my own mind better, to make friends with it, and to be able to "work with it" to live a fuller and more meaningful life.

Starting right from the beginning… of time

and how our mind has developed over hundreds of generations. I find this video incredibly useful in demonstrating that when our minds start telling us negative things, or we feel strong and difficult emotions in our bodies, it's because historically, this was useful. It was to prepare us for danger, or keep us safe…. check it out:

Now whilst this video orients towards life in general, and the impact of modern technology as an example, it also applies to our performance in sport, work, relationships.

Having negative thoughts is normal. Having strong emotions is normal.

Learning how to respond to them is a skill - and if we can do so, we remove some of the largest barriers to playing our best game.

So next time you have a negative thought on the course, try saying

"Oh, there's my mind having X thought. Thanks mind, I know you're just trying to prepare me for the worst. But right now, I'm preparing to hit a golf ball."

Then, go on to orient your mind to the task at hand.

How do we do this?

Well, our minds are super creative, and as we have explored in other articles, and based on your own experience, have the ability to create amazing shots under different circumstances. Remember a recent shot you hit which went exactly like you planned. How did it look? How did it feel? Amazing. You were "in the zone".

That was your mind!

So, one way is to ask your mind a question.

"Ok, what does a good shot look like here?"

This way, you're using your mind to be creative, to generate a new shot in this moment.

It's ok to have negative thoughts. It's normal. The ability to notice them, accept them, and then reorient your mind to the task at hand is a skill you can develop. And with time, it will become the automatic response to challenging situations.

ACT has had a positive impact on my own life, and approach to performance in my career and relationships, and inspired me to share this information with the world and my clients, as I believe it is truly transformative.

I've also read several of Russ Harris's books which I highly recommend (see my library page, here).