How One Question Can Change Your Game and Your Life.
The Science of Reframing
I’ll never forget the time I watched a junior golfer completely unravel after one bad shot. It was a tight match, and he was playing well—until he pulled his drive left into the trees. His face tightened, his shoulders slumped, and I could practically hear the self-talk running through his head: I just blew it. I always choke.
By the time he got to his ball, he was already defeated. Instead of thinking about his next move, he was stuck in frustration. His next shot hit a branch. The one after that barely made it back to the fairway. By the time he reached the green, the damage was done—not just on the scorecard, but in his mind.
Later, we talked about it. I asked him, What if, instead of seeing that drive as the end, you had asked yourself a different question?
"Like what?" he asked, still irritated.
"What else is true?"
He looked at me, confused.
"Okay, you hit a bad shot. That’s true. But what else is true?"
He thought for a moment. I had been playing well before that.
"Exactly. What else?"
"I’ve gotten out of trouble before."
"Right. So was the round really over, or did you just convince yourself it was?"
He sighed. I guess I let the shot get to me.
That’s the thing about pressure—whether in golf or life, your first reaction to a setback isn’t always the truth. The problem isn’t the bad shot. It’s the meaning you attach to it. And if you can change that meaning, you can change the way you respond.
The Science Behind Reframing
Reframing is a mental skill that helps you shift how you interpret a situation. Psychologists call it cognitive reappraisal, and research shows it can significantly reduce stress and improve performance under pressure.
Dr. James Gross at Stanford University found that people who practice cognitive reappraisal experience lower anxiety and greater emotional control. In sports, Dr. Sian Beilock’s research shows that reframing stress as a challenge instead of a threat leads to better focus, smoother execution, and more confidence in high-pressure moments.
In other words, your mindset shapes your performance more than you realize.
The "What Else Is True?" Trick
The next time you’re overwhelmed—whether it’s a bad shot, a tough day at work, or just one of those weeks where everything feels like it’s falling apart—pause. Before you spiral into frustration, ask yourself:
What else is true?
You hit a bad shot—but you’ve also hit great ones before.
You’re stressed at work—but you’ve handled hard things before.
You feel like you’re failing—but you’re still showing up and pushing forward.
Shifting your focus doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means seeing the full reality, not just the worst part.
That junior golfer? He started using this technique in tournaments. The next time he hit a bad drive, he stopped, took a breath, and asked himself, What else is true? He reminded himself he was still in the match. He scrambled for par. He didn’t let one mistake define the rest of his round.
And that’s the lesson: A single question can change your entire response.
This is one of the mental strategies from 18 Holes, a program designed to help golfers strengthen their inner game. But the truth is, it’s not just about golf. It’s about life. Because when stress, overwhelm, and chaos hit, how you choose to see the situation determines what happens next.
See you next Wednesday on 18 Holes with Dr. Mat.