Dear creative, have you lost that authentic joy for your passions and creativity? Have you lost the passion altogether for your creations?
We live in an era of instant gratification. With Amazon Prime, instant pots, and speedy food delivery services, waiting has become less common and patience less practiced. However, patience remains an essential ingredient in life.
Some of your greatest and deepest desires may be years away, yet you postpone feeling at peace until those goals are achieved. You shift the goalpost, thinking, ‘I’ll be at peace when I reach a certain bank account balance,’ or ‘I’ll find peace when I gather a specific number of followers,’ or ‘I’ll attain peace once I reach this new goal.
Remember, you cannot allow rewards to be the sole motive for your actions, but simultaneously, you cannot become attached to avoiding action. There are no rewards without the work.
Approach the work as if the action itself is the destination, and you will reach every step along the way. Instead of considering ‘writing a novel,’ ‘creating five new feature films,’ or ‘producing 25 new paintings’ as the ultimate destination, shift your perspective.
Say to yourself: ‘Preparing my next canvas,’ ‘writing this new script,’ or ‘writing an outline or ideas for my novel’ is the destination. Rewrite your narrative so that these actions become your destination, and you’ll find fulfillment at every step.
As you engage in the work as if the very act is the ultimate destination, you’ll find yourself becoming an integral part of the process, merging seamlessly with it. Embracing this perspective, you’ll also begin to relish the process itself.
There won’t be any division or separation; you’ll become one with the process. Your efforts will bear fruits when driven by love, care, and precision. This is when your work transforms into a form of worship and a spiritual practice.
When you yield to society’s demand for swift results, your dedication to your work may start feeling rushed. This pressure seeps into various aspects of life. Your mind, swayed by societal expectations, becomes complacent and fear-driven, fixating solely on destinations and rewards.
We often find ourselves conforming to the world’s pace instead of embracing our own rhythm. At times, you can become so fixated on reaching the destination quickly that you mistake speed for necessity. However, it’s not always about pace; it’s about alignment and moving purposefully. Consider your craft as a garden — it blooms with care, not speed. Similarly, you, too, are a garden; your growth comes from nurturing, not rushing.
It’s all about exploration, not the destination.
Speak the affirmation to yourself: I don’t chase, I receive.
Stay rooted in truth, stay rooted in you. Continue to stay patient, plan, prepare, be persistent, and you shall receive.
Have you heard the saying: how you do one thing is how you do everything? How you show up in one way is how you show up in other ways.
Think of all the jobs you’ve had through your life that you hated. Each of these jobs gave you useful tools that have helped you today. They all taught you something that has inspired you in the present. The ability to communicate with others, a strong work ethic.
When the thing that you love the most is finally in front of you, you will be ready. Do the work, create, express, without attachment to the outcome and reward. The spotlight seeks the artist that does the work not for the attention, but for the pure joy of creation that shines through their work.
Why is it that the artist’s first work is often seen by the world as the best? It’s because it was created from a state of pure joy. It emerged before corporations, external voices, the pursuit of money, and external pressures took their toll. That initial creation represented the rawest form of passion from the creator, before it began eroding under external demands.
Consider planting a tree. You nurture it, water it diligently, yet you have no control over its growth rate, lifespan, or whether it bears fruit. Your joy and fulfillment stem from the act of planting, caring for, and nurturing the tree, not from the outcomes it may yield.
The essence lies in focusing on the action rather than fixating solely on the fruit it may bear. It’s about committing to what is right and necessary without being swayed by personal gain or loss.
Imagine a musician completely immersed in the flow of their music, untouched by the applause or recognition they receive. Their focus lies solely on the sheer joy and purity within the music itself. Lost in its depths, they fall in love with the pure ecstasy and joy it brings.
It’s not about abandoning our goals or apathy towards the world; rather, it’s about finding equilibrium. Fully engaging in our actions means walking our aligned path without attachment or fear of reward or punishment. It’s about harmonizing so deeply with life’s natural flow that our actions become spontaneous, synchronized with the order and rhythm of life.
Remember to be gentle with yourself; this isn’t an overnight achievement and will take time. Cultivate daily awareness or routines that aid in practicing non-attachment to outcomes. Here are three gentle practices to inspire and guide you on your journey.
Practice presence
Engage in small acts that bring you to the present moment, such as making your morning cup of coffee or tea, or taking a morning walk. Practice being fully present during these activities, observing every aspect without judgment or attachment.
Acknowledge all thoughts and feelings that arise without holding onto them. This practice anchors you in the present, reducing mind-wandering tendencies. It serves as a reminder to immerse yourself fully in each moment, rather than simply going through the motions
Practice gratitude
The practice of gratitude can transform your perspective from a sense of lack and constant wanting to one of fulfillment and contentment. Each evening, take a moment to reflect on three things you’re grateful for from that day. Even in moments you may not enjoy, seek gratitude. It’s about finding appreciation in every experience, big or small
Start your day with positive intentions by writing down five things you deeply appreciate every morning. Seeking out more moments of gratitude throughout your day not only anchors you to the present but also invites greater joy into the everyday processes of your journey.
Practice random acts of kindness
Try practicing acts of kindness without expecting anything in return at least once a week. Consciously perform these acts from the heart, without seeking recognition or rewards.
The essence lies in giving selflessly; it not only benefits you but also enriches others’ lives. This practice cultivates non-attachment to outcomes and fosters greater joy through simple acts of kindness.
Final Thoughts
Consider the act itself as the destination, and you’ll find fulfillment at every step. Sometimes we perceive the destination as being years ahead, but it’s actually right now — this very moment presents the opportunity.
Immersing yourself in the joy and presence of your craft propels you toward your goal faster than fixating on the time it might take to reach it. Energy focused on the duration can hinder progress through procrastination and fear.
The reward lies in placing your presence back into the moment itself. Let go of attachment and judgment towards external factors, and simply allow yourself to exist. Embrace a love for your craft at every stage, even the messy ones. When you see each step along your journey as the destination, you’ll be surprised at how swiftly the goal you set in your mind will be achieved.
So, don’t let yourself be overcome with procrastination and fear. Let yourself fall in love again with each step along the journey because the journey itself is the destination.
Life is not a destination; it’s a jounrey. It’s not a series of goals; its a series of steps, of events unfolding as you make your way. Life is not all about accomplishments; it’s all about doing, participating, progressing, growing, and learning. — Mike Hernacki
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