Last weekend many of us sat glued to our seats as we watched our U.S. Golf Ryder Cup team suffer a devastating loss to the European team.  Since our team hasn’t won since 2008, the players carried the added pressure of high expectations that have grown through the years.

Not only playing for personal pride, honor, and love of the game, the team worked to please family, friends, fellow team members, and the captain, but also they represented their beloved country.  Every stroke, look, and comment would be put under the microscope to be analyzed.  Talk about “piling on” the pressures!

Eager to do well, and laden with a shroud of responsibility weighing heavily on heir shoulders, the U.S. men hit the links, played their best and still lost.

In one vein, I think they suffered from the “Shroud of Shoulds”. “I should have made the putt”. “I should have kept it in the fairway for my partner.” “I should have never used that club, I know better.”

We keep beating ourselves up for the less than perfect shot. We apologize to our partner for not measuring up to expectations.

As in golf so with life. We all carry some Ryder Cup Pressure Symptoms with the “Shroud of Shoulds”.

These knots of “Shoulds” act as ties that bind us in life as in golf.

In golf, our hands grip the club too tightly preventing the smooth superfluid stroke while mind is hampered with fear of missing the mark.

In life, our hands hang on to the status quo in our comfort zone, afraid to venture to the bitter edge when life really begins.

Feeling responsible encourages growth and maturity. But taking on too much responsibility acts as a beast of burden. Like a yoke tying us in knots, we become paralyzed with fear and indecision. We are stymied, afraid to disappoint.

“I should have volunteered for that.” “I should have kept my mouth shut. “ “I should have written a thank-you note.” “I should visit my parents more often.”

So remember that life, like golf is a game of recovery.  Where you are may not be the “country club of your dreams”, but it’s the “course” you’re on.  So regrip, renew, and refocus for there are more Cups and more of life’s happiness coming you way. Don’t miss the joys of tomorrow being weighed down with burdens of yesterday.

Have your ever felt the weight of responsibility keep you from spreading your wings to fly? Please take a minute to share your thoughts below.