With the term “Trust the Process” becoming cliche these days it seems important to discuss what that means and some of the hurdles to actually following the advice. First, let’s look at the definition of the word; Process: a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result. This means that the first step in the process is to define the end result that you are striving for. Unless you have done that there is no process.
If you have done the work to define your goals, then you can move onto the next step which is to clarify the actions or steps that need to be taken to achieve those goals. A thorough assessment is essential to identifying the key areas for improvement and best strategies to improve upon any areas of weakness. A key component then is to identify some micro goals that will inform you that you are on track and that the hard work is paying off.
Some hurdles that you may face in trusting this process is the lag time between effective intentional practice and results even with the micro goals. An example of this might be defining improved driving accuracy as a goal, and not seeing it improve in practice or on course even though you are consistently working on the appropriate drills and forms of practice. This is really what makes improving in golf so hard. Most people find it difficult to adopt the mindset of hard work and patience. You must believe that you are working on the right things and that it’s just a matter of time until they improve. Otherwise, you will find yourself like most golfers, hitting a bucket of golf balls trying many different swing thoughts and going home more confused than you started because the results didn’t show up in 10 shots or less.
Take the time to start your process at the beginning and don’t skip steps. This will give you the conviction needed to stay the course and Trust the Process!
