Overactive Brain

Our nervous system is "on" at all times. The fight-or-flight syndrome -- or stress system -- kicks in at the knock on the door or the ball spinning out of the cup for that much-needed par. The original response kicks chemicals into our system that can greatly affect our whole body; it has a very specific effect on our brain functions.

Recently a Cardiologist from Canada found out that there are brain cells in our heart. He states that our heart is much more powerful than our brain. Yet we often over use our brain when we play golf. Of course the brain can function as a wonderful tool. For example, throwing up some grass to test the wind or deciding to use an old ball on a water hole instead of a new one is a funciton of the thinking. The brain can also create stories that affect us. These stories can create stress and that stress creates emotions. These emotions are then directly affecting the brain and its decision making. We actually stop thinking clearly when we are stressed. This whole scenario is caused by the over active brain. It's like there is a built in malfunction and the brain over heats by what it creates when left to do all the work. Our brain can be like walking in a bad neighborhood.

There is hope to get through this however. First of all it helps to simply know that this brain malfunction is true and if we can learn to send the correct messages to our brain from our heart we can think better. If we don't respond to stress we can stop stress. Ask yourself this, when are you the most relaxed? When are you the most calm? When are you feeling quiet and clear of thoughts yet focused? These are questions that are important to do your best recalling of those surroundings.

The most relaxing place that you come up with may be the shower or in bed just before you fall asleep or wake up. The place you go when your there is a state of being in the here and now, the unity of your existence. Focus on your heart instead of your thoughts the next time your in one of those places. Focus on the center of the chest, where your heart is. Do some slow breathing, in and out. Feel the blood pump thru your heart. Then pick a great moment in your life to think about for a moment. Mine is when my children were born, but this doesn't work for my wife. This exercise should help you feel relaxed.

Some of you may even feel invincible when you recall some of you most glorious moments, perhaps invincible enough to face the fear of the first tee or a down hill sliding six footer. The next time you play do your best to try this on 5 or 6 shots. It would be great if you could do it on all of them, but we all know that the brain will have something to say about that.