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I‘m a huge “self help” junkie! I have dozens of books on the topic, and find myself buying more every week 
But I want to talk about how you can apply the “pain-pleasure” priniciple in your golf improvement; health; and even everyday life.
It’s pretty cool when you gain an understanding of it and start applying it!
I’m not one to get into too much psycho babble, but it’s amazing when you get that “ah ha” moment and really get it!
Okay…here goes! By the way…this is my take on it, please add your opinions at the bottom via comment. I am curious what you think and how you’ve found success with your personal approach.
We make most decisions in our life based on pain and pleasure. Think of something you know you should do. It might be going to the range to improve your swing. Eating better to lose weight. Something around the house that’s been hanging over your head.
The pain of doing what you need to do is not great enough, therefore the pleasure in putting it off or choosing something else instead is greater.
Let me give you an example with people struggling with their weight. I know this might not apply to every single person, but this is a “no holds barred” explanation.
The person struggling to lose weight does not have enough pain of being overweight (seeing themselves in the mirror) to overpower the pleasure of eating the foods that got them there. Until they wake up, look in the mirror and finally blow (and say they are not going to accept this anymore, they are tired of looking like this, and they will never look like this again), they will continue to eat the wrong foods.
The day this does happen, the pain has plunged ahead of the pleasure of eating and they WILL make a change and start losing weight. This is amazing to me, because it is “dead on” in my opinion. Until people reach a boiling point (too much pain), they will continue down the path of destruction (including not improving in golf 
).
Here’s a golf example for you!
A great example for golfers is the pleasure of going to the range and hitting your driver the whole time, compared to the pain of practicing your short game. I’m guilty of this one 
! For most of us, it’s so much funner to watch that ball go a long ways at the range, than to go to the short game area and practice chipping and putting. We know we need to do it, but that dang pleasure of hitting the driver is greater than the pain of practicing our short game. Are you guilty like I am?
Does this make sense? I hope I’m not getting to “heady” with this, but I really think if exposed, people can really leverage this with golf, business and life. I think it’s that strong!
The golf scenarios might not be that dramatic compared to the weight loss example above, but it can still be applied. When you reach a point of total dissatisfaction, you WILL make a change in your approach and become successful.
I’ve seen this happen on the fitness side of golf with hundreds of golfers I’ve had the opportunity to help. They finally realized it’s their body that’s keeping them from a better game, and they are SO tired of walking of the course in disgust, they break down and start a golf exercise and stretching program. The rest is history (golf success that is).
Tell me what has worked for you. What approach in your life has helped you succeed in golf, life and in business? I want to hear about it, so don’t be shy!
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What do you think?
September 29th, 2007 at 11:17 am
[…] an interesting post today on How To Succeed In Golf From Pain And PleasureHere’s a quick […]
September 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
This is a great post Mike. I find that a lot of golfers use the “pain vs pleasure” pyschology when it comes to golf fitness. Those who are generally more competitive tend to put more importance into their own health and fitness to improve their golf game. On the other hand, golfers who are not as competitve only seem to want to put focus and attention on their own physical well being if they are not playing as good as fellow golfing buddies. Otherwise it is not “on the radar” for them in most cases. They also seem to look for improvement in their golf game by the use of better clubs and techniques before taking on any kind of fitness program from my experience.
The most important thing I have found working with golfers is that they are most likely to be motivated more by pain or pleasure but not both at the same time, each respectively needing a different motivational approach than another. I think its important for golfers to realize which type motivates them the most and to use the appropriate motivational strategies to help them stick to their golf fitness program. For example, one could be more motivated by losing a game and wanting to do better next time where as another could be more motivated by winning a game and striving to be even better next time.
-Bob
September 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Thanks Bob
! Actually the pain/pleasure principle works in tandem. You can say it is separate, but when you break it down, it’s both working at the same time.
September 30th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Like what Mike said, pain and pleasure indeed work in tandem.
Before I did my leg workout today, I was trying to come out with excuses to give gym a skip. Barbell squat and deadlift are not my favorite exercises. They always make my thighs and hamstrings painful the next day. However, I have to admit that these workouts help me build a stronger legs to support my upper body development, including the much sough after chests, biceps and back.
Therefore, whenever I want to give myself lame excuses not to go to gym, I remember the pleasure of getting compliments from friends about my toned body shape. With that ringing in my head, I will forget about the pain. Pack the bag, jump on the car and drive straight to the gym.
So, yes, pain-pleasure does make the difference in my workout.
September 30th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Thanks Mun! Using pain and pleasure to motivate you specifically for exercise is huge! We can play so many mind games with ourselves and end up never doing it! Don’t get in this trap! JUST DO IT! You’ll find it gets easier and easier, and the end-result is an amazing golf game AND a very healthy, energetic body
!!
September 30th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Each year since I was 35, nearly 15 years ago, I told myself this would be the year I start exercising and stretching. I never lasted more than a week. I started playing hockey at 35 and quit 12 years later after spending most of those years recovering for 6 days after each game, just in time to play the next week. Now I’ve taken up golf and suffer from the same back pain, but manage to get by with just a little stretching and advil. Finally, I can’t take it anymore. It’s affecting my ability to improve and enjoy the game. I’m now making a commitment to increase my flexibility and strength so I can enjoy golf without pain. I’ve made an appointment with a local golf conditioning coach and get started this week. I goal is to reach 50, flexible and pain free (just over a year away).
September 30th, 2007 at 8:10 am
There you go
! Your words, “I can’t take it anymore”. Do you think there’s a little pain in those words 
?? Glad to hear you reached a high enough level of pain (both physical and mental). Now get after it and don’t let excuses kill your cause.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Mike, I agree entirely with your pain-pleasure, principle. If I’m to combine both in one session I will always get the ‘painful’ bit out of the way first, and reward myself with the ‘pleasure’ afterwards.
Interestingly, at this point I am almost totally committed to improving my short game. My driving has gone way beyond the standard of my pitching and putting and ironically, there would be just no point in improving further, until the rest of my game catches up.
So right now I’m just going through the ‘pain’
but I’m enjoying my Golf so much right now that it doesn’t seem that way 
October 4th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Paul…glad to hear you’re leverage pain and not giving into pleasure
! Success is not far away for any golfer taking this approach.