#97: [Inside the Mind] Evan Singer: Turning Discomfort into Growth On and Off the Course

In this episode of The Scratch Golfer's Mindset Podcast, I sit down with Evan Singer, Mental Coach and Host of The Par Train Podcast, for a conversation that blends golf, life, relationships, and fatherhood into one powerful masterclass on resilience, self-awareness, and asking for what you want. 

From transforming pain into purpose to managing stress on the course, Evan shares how to find clarity in what you truly want—whether in golf, business, or love—and how to use reflection as a performance supercharger. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why discomfort is often the catalyst for clarity and growth
• How to ask for what you want without fear or guilt
• The "full body yes" test for making aligned decisions
• A simple yet powerful framework for managing on-course stress
• How to build a reset routine after back-to-back bad holes
• The role of ruthless reflection in accelerating improvement
• What fatherhood teaches about perspective, presence, and priorities

This is a conversation about slowing down, embracing discomfort, and learning to "enjoy the ride" no matter what life throws your way.

Get your pencils ready and start listening. 

P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here.

More About Evan

Evan Singer is the co-founder and co-host of The Par Train podcast, a top-ranked golf and mindset show that blends sports psychology, personal growth, and on-course strategy. 

Drawing from years of mental performance coaching, personal development work, and his own journey through life's challenges, Evan helps golfers transform their mental approach to the game and life. He works with players of all skill levels to build resilience, improve focus, and enjoy the ride—no matter what obstacles come their way.

More about Evan and the Part Train Podcast here.

Connect with Evan on Instagram here. 

Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course

1. Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
2. Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
3. Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording.

High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching

Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.

He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential.

Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. 

Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist 

Twitter: @parsoverbogeys

Key Takeaways:

• Enjoying the ride isn't about everything going to plan—it's about embracing discomfort as part of the journey.
• Pain and setbacks are often the catalysts for clarity and change.
• Clarity comes from experimentation, not overthinking. Evan found love by treating dating like a learning process instead of a performance.
• Most people stay stuck in "what they don't want" instead of taking action toward what they do want.
• Asking for what you want—even if it's not on the "menu"—can radically change your experience.
• Stress thrives in ambiguity. It fades when you have something concrete to focus on, like a finish cue in your swing.
• Ruthless reflection (in golf and life) accelerates growth and learning.
• True fulfillment balances selfishness (knowing what you want) with selflessness (being present for others).
• Nervousness and excitement feel similar but come from different frames—fear is defensive, excitement is offensive.
• You must slow down to build awareness. Slowing down brings your thinking brain back online.

Key Quotes:

• "Some of my most painful experiences in life have single-handedly led me to the greatest things in my life."
• "When you start saying no to the wrong fits, you're signaling to the universe that you're ready for the right one."
• "You can't tell a soldier in Iraq to act like it's North Carolina—you have to accept where you are and work from there."
• "Stress fades when you strip away the noise and focus on a task you feel competent enough to do."
• "True happiness lives on the line between selfish and selfless—you need both to be your best."

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Embracing the Journey: Finding Joy in Discomfort
• 10:47: The Power of Clarity: Understanding What You Truly Want
• 21:46: Asking for What You Want: The Art of Self-Advocacy
• 27:22: Selflessly Selfish: The Importance of Personal Needs
• 29:53: Understanding Excitement vs. Nervousness
• 36:34: Stress Management: Strategies for Success
• 43:06: Lessons from Fatherhood: Empathy and Growth