Recently, I was golfing and on my way to a personal best round. However, after a poor tee shot on the 15th hole my low score was in jeopardy. My ball was right behind a group of trees and I was facing what appeared to be an impossible shot.
As I analyzed the layout, I knew that the ball would have to get almost impossibly high in a short distance to get over the trees. I wasn’t sure that I could do it, or if it was worth taking the risk to try.
My playing partner looked at me and said, “I don’t see how you would ever be able to get the ball over those trees… that would be an impossible shot.” His doubt was just motivation enough to fire me up with the response, “Alright then, let me prove you wrong.” Golf club in hand I opened the club face wide and swung hard. I made solid contact and the ball went up, curved around the trees, and landed beautifully on the green.
I was originally planning on playing it safe, punching out low through the trees, trying to scramble for par. All I needed was someone’s doubt to push me to do something that I wasn’t sure was even possible. When others doubt you, turn the energy from negative to positive by using it as motivation to prove them wrong.
I went on to score even par 71, my best round in years.