Learning rewires the brain, but not without resistance. And the more we think we know, the harder that rewiring can be. “It is harder to teach a learned man than a freshman.”
A few weeks ago, I attended a golf training session. What struck me most was not the swing mechanics but watching how experienced golfers struggled to adjust their posture and movement. Despite years of playing, many found it challenging to adopt a more efficient stance or swing. Their bodies were so used to old patterns that even small changes felt unnatural.
The coach was patient, guiding each of us through the corrections, focusing on posture, balance, and follow through. But once the session ended, the responsibility shifted to us. Only consistent self awareness and repetition could turn those corrections into lasting improvements.
My partner, an accomplished golfer with handicap of 14, shared how difficult it was to change his setup. The adjustment nearly disrupted his rhythm, and for a while, his performance dipped. But he stayed with it. Over time, his game not only recovered, it improved in distance and score.
That experience reminded me of something important. Whenever we try to learn something new, especially if it challenges what we already know, it is tempting to retreat into the familiar. Comfort gives us a sense of control. But real growth requires letting go of good enough in order to reach something greater.
In golf, like in life, our brains create pathways through repetition. These are what we often call muscle memory. A golf swing involves a complex sequence of motions, grip, stance, weight transfer, rotation, follow through. When repeated, these movements become second nature because the brain has memorized the pattern.
But here is the challenge. If that technique was slightly off, the brain still stored it as the correct way. So when a coach introduces a better method, it does not just feel unfamiliar, it feels wrong. That is because the brain is being asked to break an old pattern and build a new one.
During that process, things often feel worse before they get better. The swing might feel awkward. Timing may fall apart. Confidence may drop. But with repetition and patience, the new movement gets stronger and clearer. The brain and body begin to sync again, this time with a better pattern.
Eventually, that new motion becomes natural. And just like a plane that needs to angle slightly downward before lifting into the sky, we may need to feel uncomfortable before we truly take off.
For more reflections on personal development, visit: www.ccwithin.com
Feel free to share this with someone who is working through change.
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#FromGoodToGreat #GrowthTakesTime
#SelfAwareness #MuscleMemory
#RewireYourMind #ComfortZoneChallenge #GolfAndLife
#Neuroplasticity #LearningJourney
#RealTransformation #CCWithin #ChiChiWang #InnerDevelopment
#DiscomfortIsPartOfGrowth #ProgressNotPerfection
#LeadershipStartsWithin
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