Sometimes it is by exploring a delimited context that I find a path to a better understanding. Exploring a specific context serves me by filtering what I need to attend to. It takes much of the professional concerns out I would otherwise pay much attention to.

With fewer elements to consider I find it easier to develop a clear mind while attending to the task. A clear mind is something I’d usually expect from myself, however, I’ve learned that often it is much less present than I’d hope for. When learning something new it’s quite natural to be confused about the learning. There is much of how to do the task and how I feel about it that isn’t clear yet.

It’s a state in which my expectations and acceptance of myself will interfere with my ability to have a clear mind. They add to the noise in my head which requires mental energy to stay focused on the task.

And when paying attention to it, rare are the situations in which I’m not reminded of what I don’t know. Learning is a constant.

It is somewhat logical, that the higher my expectations and the lower my self-acceptance is, the more I’ll find myself at risk to lose clarity of mind.

The conclusion that I can turn this around by lowering my expectations and raising my self-acceptance is easier said than done. As that too will create noise and a loud inner dialogue debating if I found the best possible level of both.

That challenge adds to the benefit of choosing a specific context in which I can experiment with my expectations and self-acceptance. Golf is the context I’ve learned to cherish for such learning. Every game presents itself with an invitation to inquire about how well I feel and how well I know the course. Both will transform the expectations I can have as well as the level of self-acceptance I’ll need on that day.

And well, when I forget to think about it before starting, I still can reflect on it after playing. The result will show a clear picture, at least if I consider what has been within my control and what I learned during the game.

Something I also like about the idea to settle with low expectations, high self-acceptance, and a clear mind is that I’ve to figure it out myself. No one can do it for me.

But it’s not my approach, I learned about it in one of the episodes of Karl Morris’ brain booster podcast. As said in the beginning, it applies far beyond golf.