Maximizing effort to achieve maximum results was a mantra of my youth. It’s deeply ingrained in me that if I’m not seeing the results I want, I should simply ‘try harder.’ While this approach works at times, I’ve come to realize—especially in golf and in much of life—that the harder I try, the tighter I become. In the midst of movement, if I can release the illusion of control I cling to and simply let the swing unfold, good things seem to happen.
The Tao teaches, “If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given”. I desperately want to hit beautiful golf shots, but perhaps such shots are not to be taken—they must be given. Paradoxes are inherently perplexing, but I feel that golf offers a unique method for exploring this one. Could surrendering the belief that I can fully control the clubface during my swing be the key? What might happen if I let go?
I’d likely discover a natural flow in my swing, my shots, and my rounds. By detaching from the outcome, slowing my restless desire to excel as a golfer, and letting each moment unfold without forcing it, I might unlock a new joy in the game. What if golf became a serene walk—accompanied by a quiet mind and effortless movement? This is my highest aspiration in golf: to play an entire round in this flow state.
I’ll leave it to the scorecard to reflect the results, but when the paradox finally unravels and my last putt drops on the 18th hole, I’ll accept whatever I’m given with gratitude.
