Effective teachers and coaches insist that practicing is necessary in order to get better at any skill. And part of practicing is being willing to make changes in order to outgrow whatever hinders progress. The great characters of the Bible daily practiced following God, but there were significant moments when this daily practice led them to make changes, too. Moses, at first reluctant to lead the children of Israel, accepted this task (see Exodus 3 and 4). Elisha left his plowing to accompany Elijah and be mentored by him (see I Kings 19). The disciples who were fishermen left their fishing nets to follow Jesus (see Matthew 4). 

Recently, I had an experience that illustrated these points on practice and change. It was on the golf course. Golf is a relatively new activity for me, so I began by taking some elementary lessons and practicing—a lot! Little by little there was improvement, albeit slow and often frustrating. 

However, to get to the next level, it was suggested that I participate in some club competitions, one of which was an intra-club women’s championship. Well, this was exactly what I did not want to do! This was a testing time, and I had always found tournament play in other sports stressful. However, I felt strongly that the event needed support, and I agreed to enter. 

The structure of the competition included a series of flights, or divisions, where people of similar ability played against each other. The first day I was full of fear, anxiety, and tension. Since golf requires a relaxed grip and not clenched fists, my game was not good. I didn’t feel comfortable, didn’t want to be there, and lost—big time! But that day’s loss did not release me from the competition. There was a consolation flight. Something needed to change, and I knew it was my attitude. 

I knew from my previous experiences with prayer that a poor attitude could be changed into a more constructive mental approach. I also knew that a good attitude was key to harmonious action and activity. I reasoned that fear, anxiety, and tension were not attributes that I wanted attached to me. 

The next morning, as I began my day with prayer, I found this verse in the Amplified Bible: “Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The Amplified Bible’s explanation of this verse says, “Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.” The words almost jumped off the page! 

I realized that if this was one of Jesus’ commands, it’s a demand, and I had better take notice. Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures that “Christian scientific practice begins with Christ’s keynote of harmony, ‘Be not afraid!’ ” (p. 410) The words scientific practice particularly stood out to me. Here I was competing in a golf event to practice my golf skills, but was I including in that practice the tools of scientific Christianity? Was I willing to practice replacing fear with peace of mind? I knew that Mind, as a synonym for God, is the only consciousness and is everywhere at the same time. I knew that Mind brings peace and that since my consciousness is a reflection of God’s consciousness, I am continuously tuned in to the divine influence, the Christ-idea.

There was an obvious shift in my thinking that released me from any anxiety.

Quickly after these ideas came to me, I had a simple thought-change about how I should approach my golf game. I realized I needed to change my focus from the score to practicing the elements that make a good golfer—a correct swing and more precise contact with the ball. The cause of the ball’s flight was the swing. It was not the score. I had been trying to force a result without paying attention to the cause. Since cause and effect are linked, scoring was simply the result of a correct swing action. And the swing action was the result of my focus. What a logical solution! All it involved was a willingness to change my focus. 

As I continued praying that morning, I revisited the word focus, which I had researched at one point. One definition is “a center of activity, attraction, or attention” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). I needed to pay attention and center the activity of my thought. This began with God, divine Mind, “the centre and circumference of being” (Science and Health, p. 204). Since activity is controlled by Mind, a feeling of fear, agitation, or intimidation could never be part of my thinking. My thinking had to be automatically governed by God’s goodness and peace.

When I stepped up to hit the golf ball that day and the next, there was an obvious shift in my thinking that released me from any anxiety. I was able to focus clearly on the task at hand. I felt free—and grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate correct action in thought and performance. The end result was a prize for winning the consolation flight. 

As I came home from the last day of the tournament, I thought more deeply about this experience. How often do we get agitated, upset, or fearful because we’re looking for a specific outcome? In Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mrs. Eddy counsels: “Have no ambition, affection, nor aim apart from holiness. Forget not for a moment, that God is All-in-all—therefore, that in reality there is but one cause and effect” (pp. 154–155). So often we mistake the real cause of something by concentrating on an effect. But by focusing on the one right cause, the right effect must follow. We don’t have to worry about how things will turn out.

My tournament experience taught me that a personal best means more than striving for a perfect score. It taught me that anxiety and intimidation are offshoots of fear and that by reflecting the Mind of God, we are able to eliminate fear and stay focused on the right course of action. Fear-based stress then gives place to a settled peace. As I wrapped up those wins during the final rounds of the competition, more than anything, I was so grateful for achieving a right focus and a calm, peaceful state of mind. Faithful practice had indeed yielded the progress I desired.