Hey HIVERS! How is y'all doing? 👋🙌
Recently with the current events happening all around us all, I find my mind drifting towards one of the essential skills, which well according to me, is necessary to cultivate. The skill being, self-discipline. This is especially crucial for those with the focus and intent on making something of their lives, which I think we all are, don't you all agree?
With self-discipline, we are in control of our energies, which in turn gives us the ability to focus them on specific tasks for extended periods of time, which apparently is how things get really done, through periods of intensive focus and concentration. For me, the focus is crucial it is the backbone of my career of choice, computer programming.
Without the crucial skill, we are nothing more, but victims of our surroundings, leading our attention to becoming vulnerable to the onslaught of distractions that surround us, more so in the modern-day. Thomas Sterner, in his book The Practicing Mind, echos this sentiment, writing:
Of all the riches available to us in life, self-discipline is surely one of, if not the, most valuable. All things worth achieving can be accomplished with the power of self-discipline. With it, we are masters of the energy we expend in life. Without it, we are victims of our own unfocused and constantly changing efforts, desires, and directions.
Thomas Sterner
What actually lead me to read the book The Practicing Mind, was my wish to gain an understanding of why some people seem to have it all figured out, I mean the self-discipline, while when it comes to me, I am a mess, for the most part, or I used to be.
According to Thomas Sterner, the lack of self-discipline is mainly attributed to, by the lack of understanding and the implementation of the core principles of what he calls the art of practicing.
You'll all agree with me that we are all afflicted by the universal malady of having the motivation to pursue anything that interests us, but only for a few weeks, the more we progress, the more the activity stops being fun and turns into pain, till we can't take it anymore and simply give up.
Well, Sterner does argue that this is due to the lack of the proper mechanics of practicing. The practicing mind is engaged in the proper mechanics of practicing. It is the mind that is at peace with the present moment, and also completely immersed in the activity at hand.
When one is not concerned with whether they are making progress is actually when one's ability to learn and hone one's craft actually reaches its peak. Sterner explaining this as:
It’s a paradox. When you focus on the process, the intended product takes care of itself with fluid ease. When you focus on the product of your effort, you immediately begin to fight yourself and experience boredom, restlessness, frustration, and impatience.
Thomas Sterner
What Sterner advises for those of us struggling the most with this, is that they do shift the focus to the process rather than the product, which believe me, most of us focus on.
paradoxically when we make the process the goal, the end result seems to take care of itself.
Thomas Sterner
Through experience, I have come to the understanding that focusing on the product, doubt, anxiety, and frustration will always find a way to follow. The end product should be used only as a compass to keep us from straying from the right direction.
In every moment of your struggle, by looking at the goal and constantly referencing your position to it, you are affirming to yourself that you haven’t reached it. You only need to acknowledge the goal to yourself occasionally, using it as a rudder to keep you moving in the right direction.
Thomas Sterner
When you let go of your attachment to the object you desire and make your desire the experience of staying focused on working toward your goal, you are fulfilling your desire in every minute and you are patient with the circumstance. There is no reason not to be. There is no effort or “trying to be patient” here. It is just a natural response to your perspective. This shift in perspective is very small and subtle on the one hand, but it has enormous freeing power. No task seems too large to undertake. Your confidence goes way up as does your patience with yourself. You are always achieving your goal and there are no mistakes or time limits to create stress.
Thomas Sterner
In summary, it comes down to a few simple rules. Keep yourself process-oriented. Stay in the present. Make the process the goal and use the overall goal as a rudder to steer your efforts. Be deliberate, have an intention about what you want to accomplish, and be aware of that intention. Doing these things will eliminate the judgments and emotions that come from a product-oriented or results-oriented mind.
Thomas Sterner
I mean, Sterner nailed that summary 😂, no words to add, except...
To wish y'all a great day, and stay safe. 👋
Also, please don't forget to follow me @peeterx .
