Written by Danny Bader, Keynote Speaker, Author
Danny Bader is a near-death survivor, keynote speaker, best-selling author and podcast host. Danny brings a unique perspective and powerful message to his audiences,drawing from his own experiences to support, inspire and influence them on their life’s journey to greater levels of fulfillment and resilience always.
It’s often been said the game of golf is a wonderful metaphor for life. My belief in this was confirmed recently as professional golfer Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters Tournament and his second coveted green jacket in 3 years. It is well-known that Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, was watching from home, very close to delivering the couple’s first baby. Scheffler said should she go into labor he’d immediately drop out of the tournament and hurry home for the birth of their child. During Scheffler’s interview afterward and the interview of Colin Morikawa, the 13th-ranked player in the world who tied for 3rd place, I was reminded of three powerful principles available to us to apply in our lives, even though neither you nor I will likely ever play in the Masters.
These principles are to expect and visualize positive outcomes, to enjoy the moment and be particularly present so as to harness the power of your focus, and evolve—that is to undergo continuous change and growth from each day you experience this gift of life.
1. Expect and visualize positive outcomes: One of the greatest golfers ever, Jack Nicklaus, said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.” Scheffler has talked about his focus on “seeing” the shots in his head before he hit them—and he hit some amazing ones. Research says our brain does not know the difference between reality and something imagined. When we imagine and expect positive outcomes, whether a golf shot, an effective presentation (I mentally rehearse each talk I present), or any activity in which we engage, our brain fires the same neurons needed in the actual execution of the activity. What do you have coming up in your life where you want to produce a positive outcome? Be sure to expect it through your visualization of seeing it before it happens. I’d have to think—and don’t know for sure—Scheffler at some point leading up to the Masters also envisioned last year’s champ, Jon Rahm, presenting him and helping him put on his second size 42-long green blazer…the well-recognized symbol of a Masters champion.
2. Enjoy the moment and be present: Golf requires a high level of focus and concentration on the present moment…just like life, right? Being fully present allows us to appreciate the beauty of each moment, fostering gratitude and mindfulness. As I watched Scheffler work to protect and increase his lead in the final round, my wife, Lisa, said, “He needs to get some emotion.” I smiled, not wanting to disagree with her…another article for sure…ha ha. I offered to her there’s a saying in competition, “Never too high, never too low.” Scheffler’s attitude was neutral, because he understands we act from our emotion, and we’re more relaxed when in neutral state…not tight because of stress, or imaging negative outcomes, and not too excited by the thought of premature victory and celebration. Our emotions are the result of what we’re saying to ourselves about what we’re experiencing…it’s our beliefs…our inner dialogue. Your life is lived between your ears, so make sure this is a positive and nice place to be.
This served Scheffler well as it can serve us well in life. Of course, after Scheffler pulled his ball from the hole on the 18th green, he was the 2024 Masters Champion, and a huge fist pump came as he shifted his energy and focus from the neutral gear needed for intense competition to the overdrive gear of joy and celebration. BTW, Lisa loved Scottie’s fist pump. Where do you need to enjoy the moments of your life a bit more? Take a breath…look around…be present.
3. Evolve and grow (always!): Golfers, like athletes in any sport, constantly strive to improve their skills and adapt to new challenges. Likewise, in life, embracing change and committing to continuous growth is essential for personal development and fulfillment.
The famous Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, captured the essence of the third “E”, evolve, when he said, “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
This was referenced when Colin Morikawa, who was on the heels of Scheffler in the final round said, “Greed got the best of me.” This got my attention. Morikawa went on to say he felt good and how he was hitting his shots close to the pin, and how he got greedy in trying to hit them too close, for when he missed by just a small margin, he was leaving himself more difficult shots which led to bogies and contributed to Scheffler’s increased lead. Morikawa understands the importance of learning from every experience to evolve as a champion golfer, he evolves for sure, and his learning will contribute to him winning future golf tournaments.
What have you learned from recent life experiences? How have you evolved and grown? And more importantly, how can you use this wisdom to produce more “wins”, more positive outcomes in your life? By learning from our experiences and embracing opportunities for growth, we can evolve into the best versions of ourselves.
Think about your approach to life, and the principles you apply and how you may begin to apply the 3 E’s; expect, enjoy and evolve, for a fulfilling and resilient life. By integrating these three principles into our approach to life, we can cultivate resilience, fulfillment, and success. Whether we're facing the pressures of a major golf tournament or navigating the complexities, joys and struggles of everyday life, the 3 E's can serve as guiding principles to help us achieve our goals and live with purpose and passion.
Thanks Scottie Scheffler, and all the best to you and Meredith as new parents!
Read more from Danny Bader
Danny Bader, Keynote Speaker, Author
Danny Bader is a sought-after speaker whose message is simple: live with a radical reverence for YOUR life. An electrocution accident left Danny and his friend both dead...only Danny came back to life. Through stories, science, Spirit and humor Danny inspires and influences people to always do the work needed to create a life of fulfillment and resilience.
