Self-Mastery Nº22
The goal is the process, not the outcome
Welcome to Self-Mastery — a place of timeless ideas to help you become the architect of your mind and create yourself, starting from the inside.
“If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.”
— Anatole France
It often seems as though the best way to achieve something is to focus on it entirely, try to move toward it, and judge each attempt we make by how closely we get to it. You want to build a better body, but you find yourself constantly thinking about the final look.
This approach is blinding. It’s far from optimal, to say the least. It’s fine to think about the end result when you feel down or need inspiration, but to focus your attention and effort on it alone is misguided. There’s a better way below.
If instead, you focused less on your results and more on the path to it, not only will you reach it faster, but you’ll learn more, multiply your success, and attain longer lasting happiness. I’m not kidding. Perhaps, you wouldn’t even notice yourself reaching your goal as you soar beyond it.
But unfortunately—by default—we tend to live in the past or be struck by the future. Why? We’re innately goal-pursuing and results-focused; we’re wired for discontentment with the present and always striving for more. Results are easier to measure and evaluate than processes. Results look better in status to others. We know people judge us based on those results and we care too much about what they think.
But it’s better to focus on the process.
It eliminates noise from external factors.
It encourages creativity.
It helps you enjoy more. A lot more.
You’re more in control.
You care less about the outcome, or how you look, and more about enjoyment and personal fulfilment.
You grow confidence.
You achieve mastery in new skills.
So, how do you start?
Don’t pursue rewards. Trust that they will come as long as you’re consistent and focused on improvement.
Teach yourself to stop worrying about what others will think. What use is it caring about someone—even your friend—who is completely inexperienced or negative of what you do?
View each attempt as mere practice for the next attempt.
Rate yourself based on effort and where you started, not the outcome. Don’t be a winner of today, be a winner. Focus to achieving the best effort, not the best result.
Be self-aware in your performances. Reflect and be accountable for it. Do not blame or put yourself down—that wastes time and energy.
Each strategy needs daily action and a positive mindset to keep you on track. The path is more important than its destination when in motion, so focus on little else.
What’s on My Mind
I took some time to reflect as I missed last weeks post. It was a rather strenuous weekend of work, but it reinforced my love for what I do: write for people like you. I’d completed some writing on a complex topic (landscape architecture), and it was comfortably the hardest piece of work I’ve had to write about—so far.
But it makes me thankful for knowing what I want to do, write for people to enjoy what they read.
I’d compare it to weaving a handmade item of clothing. When you write, every line should feel seamless to that which precedes and comes after it. It’s storytelling. Every sentence should allow you to glide along and feel connected to it. Like music. It should heighten your senses, help you feel exactly the way you want to feel. And use your generous attention to always bring something good to your life.
That’s what I love about writing.
Explore
Over the past few months, I wanted to help people who suffered from aches and pains during this year. So, I wrote my first eBook about a practice called core training. It would mean everything if you could check it out, or recommend it to anyone who might need this. It contains over thirty exercises you’d get from physiotherapists, osteopaths, personal trainers and professional athletes. And it’s my way of providing value to people who want to look after their health. Here’s the link. Thank you.
I do have some more articles awaiting approval from publications. So be sure to keep an eye out on Medium for when they release.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. Have an excellent week.
— Jelani
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