Stop Thinking, Start Playing Better Golf – The Non-Duality Secret with Katrijn Van Oudheusden | Mind Caddie #404
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In this episode of Mind Caddy, host Carl Morris welcomes Katrijn Van Oudheusden, author of 'Seeing No Self,' to explore the transformative power of non-duality in sports and life. The conversation delves into the illusion of a separate, controlling self and how this belief fuels stress, anxiety, and the constant need to 'fix' performance—especially in golf. Katrijn explains that true freedom comes not from controlling thoughts or optimizing the mind, but from directly observing what is aware of thoughts, sensations, and experiences. She emphasizes that the mind is not a tool for control but a conditioned program that generates endless mental noise. The key insight? There is no 'doer' behind actions—goals, skills, and even flow states emerge spontaneously. This perspective liberates athletes and individuals from the burden of self-improvement, allowing them to show up fully to the present moment, whether on the golf course or in daily life. Carl ties this to practical golf performance, highlighting how letting go of control leads to better play, spontaneity, and joy in movement. The episode concludes with a powerful call to experiment with awareness—asking, 'What is aware of this?'—as a direct path to peace and performance. Key takeaways include: 1) The belief in a separate self is an illusion that causes unnecessary stress; 2) True performance freedom comes from observing awareness, not controlling thoughts; 3) Letting go of the need to predict or control leads to better flow and spontaneity; 4) The mind is not the source of action—it’s a conditioned system that generates thoughts, not decisions; 5) The most powerful tool isn’t a mental hack, but the simple inquiry: 'What is aware of this?' 6) Skill development and preparation are still valuable, but they happen without the burden of personal achievement; 7) The joy of the game is found in the experience itself, not in outcomes; 8) Non-duality isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about being fully present to what is, without resistance.
The belief in a separate 'self' that controls your life is an illusion that creates stress and suffering.
True freedom comes from directly observing what is aware of thoughts and sensations, not from trying to control them.
Letting go of the need to predict or control performance allows for spontaneity, flow, and better results.
The mind is not a tool for control—it’s a conditioned system that generates thoughts, not decisions.
The most powerful mental shift isn’t a technique, but the inquiry: 'What is aware of this?'
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Masters, Mindset, and the Invitation to Let Go
Carl Morris opens the episode with reflections on the Masters Tournament and the importance of setting intentions for the golf season. He invites listeners to explore their deeper motivations for playing golf and introduces the Mind Caddy AI tool and the Mind Factor Certification for coaches and players seeking to deepen their mental game.
Introducing Non-Duality: The Illusion of the 'Doer Self'
“We are putting in charge an entity that doesn't exist. And when you're put in charge of something, have responsibility for something over which you have no control, that's the recipe for burnout.”
The Mind as a Conditioned Program, Not a Controller
“Realizing directly that the thoughts about yourself are exactly the same, they are also about a fictional character, a fictional self, a fictional doer. That is the freeing part.”
The Power of 'Letting Go' and 'Seeing What Happens'
“It's not that this is... very difficult to explain in words and it's always misheard. So it's heard as... Oh, well, I will just do nothing then. I'll just show up and see what happens and I won't improve. But that's not what this is saying.”
Direct Inquiry: The Key to Non-Dual Awareness
“Whenever it occurs to you to do so, and maybe because of this podcast, you will start to become interested in this, the middle of whatever is going on, what is aware of what's going on? What knows that? And to just notice that, to just look there.”
“Realizing directly that the thoughts about yourself are exactly the same, they are also about a fictional character, a fictional self, a fictional doer. That is the freeing part.”
“Whenever it occurs to you to do so, and maybe because of this podcast, you will start to become interested in this, the middle of whatever is going on, what is aware of what's going on? What knows that? And to just notice that, to just look there.”
“It's like you're constantly wearing shoes that are a size too small and and suddenly you realize you can take them off that's that's how it feels.”
Host
Guest
Katrijn Van Oudheusden
person
Carl Morris
person
Seeing No Self
book
Mind Caddy
media
Masters Tournament
other
Chris Neubauer
person
Mind Factor Certification
other
Arnold Palmer
person
Chris Kneebow
person
Graham McDowell
person
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