When Commitment Comes Before Clarity

Playing Through the Fear of the Unknown

I vividly remember standing on the tee box of a blind par-4, gripping my driver a little tighter than usual. The fairway curved out of sight, disappearing behind a hillside. No aiming stakes, no clues, just a vast unknown. Hit it straight and hope for the best.

I hate these holes.

There’s something unsettling about not knowing what’s ahead. In golf, in life—it’s the same. The unknown messes with your mind. You start imagining the worst. Is there trouble over the hill? A hidden bunker? A hazard waiting to punish a seemingly good shot? Your brain fills in the blanks with fear.

This happens in real life too.

Think about it. A career change. Moving to a new city. Starting a business. Taking a leap in any area where there’s no clear roadmap. The fear of the unknown creeps in, whispering doubts. What if this doesn’t work out? What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? It’s paralyzing, and if you’re not careful, you hesitate so long that you never take the shot at all.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to see the entire fairway to hit a good shot. You just need to commit to the process. Trust your preparation, pick your target, and swing with confidence. Overthinking the unknown doesn’t make it any less unknown—it just makes it scarier.

The Astronauts Who Had to Commit

Imagine being sent into space for a nine-day mission, only to find out you’d be there for nine months. That’s exactly what happened to astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Due to unexpected technical issues, their return was delayed, leaving them stranded far beyond their planned timeline.

(Dr. Mat with Astronaut Butch Wilmore before going to space at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL)

They had no choice but to commit—to survival, to problem-solving, to trusting their training. There was no room for hesitation or second-guessing. They accepted the reality of what was and focused on what they could control: staying agile, staying committed to the mission, and adapting as needed. Their mindset—one of flexibility and resilience—was what ultimately brought them home safely.

This is no different from facing uncertainty in golf or life. You don’t always know how long the journey will take or what obstacles lie ahead. But once you commit, you adapt, you problem-solve, and you move forward. And just like Butch and Suni, that’s how you make it through.

How to Commit with Confidence

1. Reframe Uncertainty as Opportunity
   Studies in cognitive psychology suggest that how we frame uncertainty affects our response to it. Instead of seeing the unknown as a threat, shift your mindset to view it as a challenge. Research by Dr. Alison Wood Brooks at Harvard Business School highlights that reframing anxiety as excitement leads to better performance in stressful situations. (This is what we teach players and athletes how to do through the 18 Holes program at MPGA - learn more here).

2. Use Pre-Shot Routines (or Decision Routines)
   In golf, the best players follow a pre-shot routine to reinforce commitment. This principle applies beyond sports. Neuroscientific studies show that routines reduce cognitive overload, making it easier to commit to decisions. Whether it’s taking deep breaths, using self-talk, or visualizing success, find a ritual that helps you lock in.

3. Make Small Commitments First
   Research from Dr. Robert Maurer on the “Kaizen” approach—making small, manageable changes—shows that gradual commitments build confidence over time. If making a major decision feels overwhelming, commit to small, tangible steps first.

Why Clarity Follows Commitment

The biggest misconception about uncertainty is that clarity must come before action. But in reality, clarity comes because of action.

• When you take the shot, you get immediate feedback. You learn what works and what doesn’t.

• When you commit to a decision, your brain shifts from indecision to problem-solving mode. Studies on decision-making show that commitment reduces cognitive dissonance and mental fatigue.

• Momentum builds confidence. The more you act, the clearer the path becomes.

Final Takeaway: Commit First, Clarity Follows

In golf, in life—make a decision, commit to it fully, and let things unfold.

You’ll never have all the answers upfront, but action creates momentum. And momentum turns the unknown into experience. Hesitation leads to doubt. Doubt leads to fear. But commitment leads to confidence.

So step up. Take the shot. And trust that when you walk over the hill, you’ll figure out the rest.