#108: [Inside the Mind] Patrick Sebastien: The Power of Adversity and Learning to Expect Greatness

In this powerful episode of The Scratch Golfer's Mindset Podcast, I sit down with former MMA coach and mindset expert, Patrick Sebastien, to explore the art of mental toughness — both inside and outside the ropes.

Drawing from years in the fight world and his work with elite golfers, Patrick unpacks how adversity, flow states, and physical intensity combine to build unshakable confidence and resilience on the golf course.

You'll learn how to intentionally seek and use adversity to your advantage, train like an athlete to improve emotional control under pressure, and create your own blueprint for peak performance. Patrick and I dive deep into visualization, breathwork, and post-round reflection as essential tools to develop composure, focus, and self-belief when the stakes are high.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to reframe adversity as opportunity and bounce back fast after a blow-up hole (or business setback).
• Why flow states require struggle first, and how to use challenge to trigger "the zone."
• A simple gym-to-course formula: create controlled physical stress, then regulate it with breath so pressure feels familiar on the tee.
• The breath training + visualization sequence Patrick uses pre-round to build calm, focus, and confidence.
• How to design on-course pressure reps (mini challenges) so tournaments feel like just another rep.
• How an identity shift ("I am an athlete") unlocks consistency, intensity, and faster scoring gains.
• The expect/accept model: expect greatness, accept imperfection, and re-engage on the next shot.
• Ways to calibrate your arousal level (not too calm, not too hyped) to hit your personal performance sweet spot.

Whether you're chasing a club championship or your next business milestone, this episode will help you expect greatness — and perform like it.

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 Patrick Sebastien

Patrick Sebastien is a performance coach who helps golfers elevate their game through a holistic approach that blends physical conditioning, mental training, and strategic mastery. With over 20 years of experience teaching Muay Thai and MMA, 15 years as a personal trainer specializing in functional fitness, and 10 years guiding breath training and meditation, Patrick brings a unique perspective to golf performance optimization.

He began coaching in golf in 2022 after working with a Korn Ferry Tour player as a mental coach, and has since trained professionals, college athletes, and elite junior golfers, using his unique approach to physical and mental training for golf. Patrick specializes in preparing players to excel on and off the course by integrating s