Learning The Open Stance Philosophy is a Choice That Eliminates The Chase

Some people will drink the sand. Some people think it is water produced by the Fountain of Youth. It’s the only thing that will quench their thirst. Some don’t notice a difference even after they take a sip. It becomes a habit – even as their condition worsens. Eventually, their capacity to survive the consumption, literally and figuratively, is exhausted. They quit drinking sand from that mirage and, if they are lucky, move on to the next. Poor bastards.

The metaphor of drinking the sand can be used for any dynamic a human being might create for meeting a need with an action where steps in thinking are left out. It’s Pavlovian in nature. Sometimes the action is hopelessly misguided and leads to eventual disappointment. The pursuit expresses only the inability of its progenitor to come up with a specific plan of attack to address a persistent need… a philosophy, if you will. Usually, what is lacking in the way of a philosophical ‘How to’ is rooted in a fuzzy kind of intent that forces us to chase our fixes instead of learning the underlying cause.

There are signs of all kinds to help us get to where we want to go – road signs, flashing colored lights, mile markers, exit signs, etc. But, if we are desperate enough to let our brain fool us and turn that first swallow of sand into water, we get tunnel vision. Then, we are chasing our fix. Then, all the indicators we once relied upon to guide us to the right place now speed by in a blur of colors, leaving us wondering where we were trying to go in the first place. Will we consume the sand until it consumes us?

Generally, we lose control of what is reasonable and quit trying to find answers and stop chasing the oases in the middle of the desert because now we think they are all sand, regardless of reality. We will question when we last knew the satisfaction of a sure idea’s refreshment. When was the last time the tank was truly full of fuel and not sludge?

There is good news about this moribund metaphor, my friends. It doesn’t have to involve you. You can remain above the fray and out of touch with the desperation of the chasers. The path is right in front of you. And it is SO SIMPLE! Open your stance, and play golf. Be your own observer and teacher. PAY ATTENTION to your signs (i.e. your feedback) on the range and on the course. Drink from a clear fountain of refreshment for your golf game and your state of mind. You don’t have to drink the sand, after all.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy