A study comparing the golf swings of top professional golfers with the swings of average golfers provides some useful lessons about doing, effort, and effortlessness. This study shows three different rows, detailing their various golf swings. The top row is that of a professional golfer. The second row is of an average golfer swinging and hitting golf ball. The third row is an average golfer’s swing when there is no ball. What is most compelling about this study is that when an average golfer is not trying to hit a golf ball, his/her swing is much more closely aligned with the swing of a professional golfer than when he is trying to hit a golf ball. When the average golfer is hitting a ball, his/her swing changes, for the worse. It appears that when a golfer is not aiming for any result, but is just swinging, the golfer has an image of a healthier, more professional swing. When it comes to a golf swing, trying, or striving can get in the way of the knowledge that is contained within the mind and body.

Lack of striving, by itself does not lead to an effective golf swing (or make you a better leader, or more focused, or present.) Developing an effective golf swing requires study, practice, and skill-building, combined with a lack of striving. This study, of golf swings, highlights and points to the effectiveness of awareness without extra effort.

Try this: In the activities of your day, notice and experiment with this edge –

When are you just writing and when are you trying to write

When are just speaking and when are you trying to speak

When are just cooking or when are you trying to cook

Clear indications that you are not just doing an activity:

You are thinking about what you will do next, after the activity

You are thinking about and measuring the results of what you are doing

You are attempting to do more than one activity at a time

You feel strain and tightness in your body, as you are performing the activity.