Interference: The Invisible Force That Shapes Our Lives

"On the second hole, a notoriously difficult one, Brown stood on the tee with a golf buddy of mine and asked a simple question: "Tell me what you see." The player described danger everywhere-sand traps, water along the left side, a narrow fairway, and a small elevated green, and went on to tell him how all of the golf members score very poorly on the infamous hole #2."

"He went on to describe a completely different picture of what he saw as they stood before the second hole: an abundant landing area in the fairway for his drive, a green that is perfectly suited for a slight fade into the right side, and a hole that is imminently able to be birdied. In fact, he said that he expected to make a 3 on this par 4."

"My friend was amazed as Brown described the same hole that so threatened him, never mentioning the danger of the water or the sand traps. The only difference was the difference between his inner experience and that of Brown. That story captures the essence of the title of this article, the role of interference-the invisible force that shapes how we think, feel, and perform, not only in sport but also in our relationships, work performance, and even our health and well-being."

Interference draws attention inward, disrupts automatic skills, and increases anxiety under pressure. Presence broadens awareness, regulates the body, and enables more adaptive action and attention. Simple techniques such as focused breathing and brief pre-performance routines can interrupt interference during high-stakes moments. A contrast between fear-based imagery and positive, opportunity-focused imagery demonstrates how inner experience shapes perception and outcomes. Interference affects performance across sport, relationships, work, and health. Training to shift attention outward and employ calming regulatory practices supports consistent performance and well-being under pressure. Repeated practice builds resilience and automatic access to presence in critical moments.

Read at Psychology Today