I had a great idea a couple of weeks ago. At least, I think it was a great idea.
My garage is very tall because we have a full daylight basement. It’s easily 20 feet straight up and wide enough for two cars. One day when I was in there, I spotted a couple of golf driving range mats I’d purchased for next to nothing from the range when they were going to discard them. I observed my surroundings and came to the conclusion that my garage made a perfect private driving range for me to practice during the winter.
I plopped down a mat about a dozen yards away from the closed garage door and grabbed an 8-iron out of my bag. I took one of my practice balls that is made out of rubber and dropped it on the mat. I took a couple practice swings to feel comfortable. I eyed my target on the heavy wooden door. And then I boldly took a full swing and connected solidly with that 8-iron. You know what happened next…
When rubber traveling at a high rate of speed impacts a very heavy wooden door, the result is the ball shooting straight back to me like a cannon ball being shot out of a cannon. As agile as Russell Wilson evading a defender, I dove out of the way of the ball coming straight for my head. I determined a net would be in order for future use of my new innovation.
Funny thing. Had I been out on the golf course with the same 8-iron and real golf ball staring at my next shot, I might have been (based on experience) distracted and potentially “fearful” of the sand traps guarding the green; the out of bounds stakes to my right; and the water hazard directly behind my target. All those factors might clog my brain, lessen my confidence, and alter my swing. Ironically, faced with the potential of getting struck in the face with a rubber ball traveling 1,000 mph (you had to be there), I was fearless.
We often let real life hazards distract us. Those hazards you face when making hard decisions; when assessing results vs. consequences; and when determining your own path (see last week), will clog your brain, lessen your confidence, and mess up your swing.
Don’t be scared of onrushing calamity because you can avoid it. Be scared of choosing the path of least resistance; be scared of wasting valuable time; be scared of not living your life to the fullest; and be scared of not living outside the fence that you built around yourself.
Take a full swing with boldness and confidence. You may just hit the green.
Quote of the Week:
“I’m not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”
~ Alexander the Great
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