Did you know golfers and humanity, in general, share evolutionary attributes with water? It’s true. The way we move to grow is the attribute. We fall, we refresh, we pool, we rise, we flow. Bruce Lee once recommended we “become water” to perfectly adapt to our situation. I wonder if he didn’t know water’s natural movement is upward. In his wisdom, maybe Bruce was telling us to evolve or become most efficient in our chosen philosophy.

The first thing we do is fall down. We make mistakes and become frustrated at our decision to improve our situation. Then, we respond by quitting (no more rain fall) or we accept inevitable setbacks to move toward our goal rooted in our philosophy.

Second, we choose to stay down or collect ourselves. We’ll assume resilience, because we don’t celebrate people who stay down. Therefore, to reinvigorate our process, we enter a community of like-minded individuals, pool experiences, gain strength through association, and try again.

As our movement gets more powerful, our progress enthusiasm overflows our now confined space. We move up a flight, a league, a format, or a handicap threshold… maybe all for the top percentage of motivated players. When we rise above our previous expectation, we start find new motivation.

We look for new solutions, new tests of our philosophy and associated skill set. New possibilities become new goals. A boundless quality to our potential brings both exultation and confusing detours until we, once again, gather with others at the same level and move in the most efficient direction to enjoy our life’s journey.

Water rises because it must. However, as it moves, it both feeds and displaces the weak and the strong alike. If you have read my opinions of instruction versus teaching, you know which displaces and which feeds. Water evolves and causes evolution in other systems. Water is perfect in any state. Artificially redirecting or manipulating water always creates problems – not for the water, but for the manipulator.

Nevertheless, when we become like water, we take on certain assumptions of that simile. Bruce Lee was certainly ahead of his time, but maybe for hidden messages as much as revealed lessons. If we think in the broadest metaphorical terms, we may see every axiom or aphorism as only a directional quality to our human and golfing flow.

The strength in the flow is in efficient, unfettered freedom to seek the highest possible level, which is why plants grow upward. They are a proxy for water that cannot pool and flow – an expression of an underlying condition. In any case, water is never wasted because water finds it’s own most efficient expression. We call that state equilibrium.

People spend too much time resisting the inevitable instead of cooperating with it. We choose subjectivity over objectivity so we feel control over mortality, let’s say. In swimming against the current, we deny ourselves the ability to go with the flow, which is the force that displaces and rebuilds. At which point, we become watchers of goals being achieved by others who submitted to the truth binding them to efficient use.

Freedom of movement is freedom of expression to golfers. The truth is that all water droplets are different until they meet the ground. Then, they are uniquely and naturally repurposed. The Open Stance is the fall to the ground. It is a biodynamic certainty. However each droplet reacts with the ground is up to chance. But, we can choose our path and cooperate with the flow of any path.

We will fail on our way to efficiency. But, will we lay the groundwork to later succeed? Depending on our mentality and submission to the truth before us, we have potential. We have to choose efficiency and, in doing so, recognize the Open Stance represents the drop of falling water.

With an Open Stance, ball-striking efficiency is guaranteed. So, what keeps us from our OS philosophical flow? Fear, of course, inhibits even the best-laid plans. You can stay down if you want, but the ground won’t get any lower to raise you up. In the end, the definition of our movement is not when we fall or pool in the ground, but when we rise.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/our-stance-ball-position-and-adaptation/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/specific-intention/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/watch-out-for-rabbits-this-year/