Sometimes going directly for what you want isn’t the best strategy. We seek ‘Perfect Outcomes’ when perhaps we should really be focused on ‘Perfect Actions’. Many times, the result we seek is best achieved as a by-product of other efforts or still worthy but different goals. When we put our energy into improving and perfecting the process and release stressing about the outcome, we paradoxically often move closer to our goal.
For example, instead of looking for the perfect partner, put more of your energy into becoming the quality partner you seek (and make sure you work as hard, if not harder, on your mental fitness/health/growth as on your physical fitness/progress/appearance!). Or when I play racquetball, I frequently release the goal of winning and instead embrace simply winning the current point. This is especially true if I’m attempting a difficult comeback and, by normal odds, winning is improbable… however, winning the current point is very, very doable (akin to the odds of flipping 10 heads in a row are long but each flip is still 50/50).
Closing Quotes:
“Focus on the process and the results will come.” – Nick Saban, b. 1951, Seven National College Football Championships
“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” – Henry David Thoreau, 1817–1862
“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself…” – Victor Frankel, 1905-1997, Man’s Search for Meaning
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
0 Comments