Dr. Shelly Arneson Author and Consultant
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation
Picture

Happy Communicating
​

Analysis

10/3/2014

0 Comments

 
As I was in town for more than two or three days this past week, I scheduled another golf lesson.  For those of you who have inquired, my golf game has pretty much gone like this:
1.  I wouldn't quite call it a golf "game" so much as golf work.  
2.  Sometimes I hit shots that prompt Dave to say "Wow!"  Other shots, he is silent but I suspect he is still saying "Wow" in a whole other context.
3.  I seriously waffle between thinking this is going to be a fun retirement venture and thinking I might consider never retiring so I don't have to face the game of golf.


If you recall, my first venture with a lesson made me realize I should maybe focus on my lesson versus trying to make my golf instructor smile.  It also involved me clarifying how golf clubs are labeled (what I thought was an "E" club turned out to be a "W" for "wedge" when turned the correct way).  Exhausting, right? Yes, Dave said "Wow" when he heard.


This lesson, my instructor told me I was doing some things really well, but when I told her I just can't seem to get the whole "don't bend your left arm, but bend your right arm" thing, she stopped, stared at me, and said, "I think you need to stop thinking so much."  She went on to say, "You need to get out of your head and just start to feel it.  Don't analyze every little thing."  I resisted every impulse to ask her to not just be my golf instructor but to become my life coach.  All I could think was, "How much money could that cost---to get her to be my advisor and counselor in all daily life affairs?"  


Frankly, that advice is spot-on for every aspect of my life.  I teach a workshop to 60 people.  59 fill out the post-evaluation saying they learned so much, this was the best workshop ever, they were highly engaged the whole time..... but that ONE that says, "I didn't learn anything new."  or "We could have picked up the pace" is the one I will analyze to the nth degree.  Could've, should've, would've is the game I like to play.  But honestly, what good does it do me?  None!  If there is specific feedback from which I can learn, fair enough.  If there are patterns of comments people give, there certainly is a lesson I can learn.  But sometimes people simply don't care for our taste in music, humor, delivery or personality.  That doesn't make us wrong or bad....and it doesn't make them wrong or bad.  Really.  


But over-analyzing every little detail will derail us from our primary mission---to improve and hone our craft.  Instead, we need to swing, knowing that the lessons we have been taught are now becoming ingrained in our skill, to the point we don't have to psycho-analyze every little piece every single time.


Just for today, perhaps we can keep our eye on the big picture:  what are we doing well?  what feels right?  and then maybe take one piece of feedback on which to work on our progress in the coming days, weeks, months of our particular craft.  Keep it simple!


Happy Communicating!


Shelly
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Shelly Arneson

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Tjeerd, Johnragai-Moment Catcher, UnknownNet Photography, Mr. Bombdiggity, wuestenigel, quinn.anya, Chocolate Geek, Jorbasa, Leonard J Matthews, JefferyTurner, Golf Resort Achental, fabola, www.ilmicrofono.it, m01229, Heinrich Plum, Titanic Belfast, Strocchi, Cultural viewpoints from around the world, katrienberckmoes, fabola, susivinh, fourcroft, Sweet Dreamz Design, usarjnco, Eldriva, symphony of love, cordalth, boellstiftung, David Holt London, maryjohum, Tony Webster, Rich.S., ZK-OJQ, davidmulder61, garryknight, ChrisPerriman, mrkrndvs, goatling, YellowstoneNPS, Frederick Homes for Sale, Mary_on_Flickr, yourbestdigs, Dean Hochman, guillenperez, Janitors, rachaelvoorhees
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation