Today, we continue our Dadly Daily Declaration series with readings from The Passion Paradox by authors Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness. So far, Stulberg and Madness have discussed the pitfalls of passion and the sole focus of pursing your passion. Today’s reading continues with a focus on developing the mastery mind-set.
Here are a few gems from today’s reading:
- Goals are like steering mechanisms, North Stars to shoot for, and when used in this manner they are very productive. But too much focus on a specific goal, and especially one that is outside your full control (like winning a race), almost always does more harm than good. The mastery mind-set involves shifting your focus from achieving any one goal itself to executing on the process that gives you the best chance of more general improvement over time. Someone who embodies the mastery mind-set judges herself based not on whether she accomplishes her specific goal but rather on how well she executes her process. After all, it is the process, not the outcome, that is within your control.
- Focusing on the process means breaking down goals into their component parts and concentrating on those parts. It’s an incredible focusing mechanism that keeps you in the here and now, even during the pursuit of distant goals or in the face of setbacks or failure.
- This mind-set is integral to maintaining harmonious passion over the long and rocky road to a big event like the Olympics, but it can be applied to just about any passion—from finishing a painting to earning a promotion to improving a relationship
- Focusing on the process creates daily opportunities for little victories. These little victories serve as waypoints on the path of mastery, helping to sustain your motivation over the long haul. Process spurs progress, and progress, on a deep neurochemical level, primes us to persist.
- Focusing on the process also ensures that your self-worth never hinges on events that are outside of your control, like getting tripped during an Olympic qualifying event. It keeps the dark side of passion at bay—not allowing too much of your self-worth to rely on the achievement of an external goal. Focusing on the process also fosters a wonderful sense of internal satisfaction that comes with knowing that you put in the work; a special kind of confidence, fullness, and contentment that no one can take away from you.
- The path of mastery is never-ending.
- Focusing on the process helps you stay level-headed, remain poised, and maintain motivation along the way. Don’t spend too much time reflecting on whether you achieved specific goals. Spend time reflecting on how well you adhered to a process that gives you the best chance of progressing in your chosen pursuit. A goal is a direction, not a destination. Process keeps you present on your journey.
Those gems lead us to today’s Dadly Daily Declaration:
To develop a Mastery Mind-Set, you must focus on the process:
- First, set a goal—but remember, it should serve more as a direction than a destination.
- Next, figure out the steps that are required to make progress toward that goal and that are within your control.
- Then (mostly) forget about the goal, and focus on nailing the steps instead.
