In this solo episode, I unpack one of the most overlooked performance multipliers in both golf and life: intentionality.
Drawing from dozens of recent coaching calls, I explore how a lack of intentionality silently sabotages your progress and reveals hidden fears, limiting beliefs, and patterns of self-protection.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
- Why lack of intention isn’t laziness—it’s a defense mechanism rooted in fear.
- How fear of both failure and success cause self-sabotage during rounds.
- Why intention is the bridge between present-moment focus and flow state.
- The mental cost of vague effort and how it keeps you stuck.
- How beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve success” drive inconsistent play.
- The power of micro-intentions for golfers who struggle with focus or ADHD.
- What elite golfers and high performers do differently when it comes to intentionality.
Be intentional while you listen - get your pencils ready and start listening.
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High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching
Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.
He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential.
Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.
Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist
Twitter: @parsoverbogeys
Key Takeaways:
- Lack of intention is not a time or discipline issue; it’s rooted in deep-seated beliefs about worthiness, capability, and fear.
- Playing without clear intention protects the ego from failure but also blocks growth and consistency.
- Fear of success often drives self-sabotage just as much as fear of failure, especially after a strong front nine or great round.
- Avoiding structure or skipping a pre-shot routine is a defense mechanism to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths.
- Intentionality requires presence, self-trust, and emotional discipline—it’s a choice to lead yourself instead of react.
- Clear intention creates the mental and emotional conditions needed for flow state and peak performance.
- Common resistance to slowing down stems from false beliefs like “more effort equals better results” or “if I’m not doing, I’m falling behind.”
Key Quotes:
- “Lack of intention isn’t a behavior problem—it’s a belief problem.”
- “Intentionality is the conscious act of directing your attention, energy, and effort—on purpose, with purpose.”
- “Vague effort is your ego’s favorite hiding place.”
- “Trying to play ‘free’ without structure or routine is just another form of avoidance.”
- “Without intention, you reinforce who you used to be.”
- “Your subconscious is always intentional—even when you’re not.”
- “Intentionality is an act of self-trust. It says, ‘I’m here to grow and to own my round.’”
Time Stamps:
- 00:00: Introduction and Episode Highlights
- 05:38: The Importance of Intentionality in Golf and Life
- 18:00: Understanding the Fear Behind Lack of Intentionality
- 30:03: Strategies for Overcoming Intentionality Challenges
- 36:46: Conclusion and Call to Action
