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The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus into Your Life
Present moment awareness is an essential ingredient in life if one expects to experience any degree of authentic peace and contentment. It has been acknowledged for centuries as the cornerstone of spiritual awakening in all traditions of Eastern thought. In the West, however, it is still a relatively unrecognized concept of living. The Western mind is always restless, never content with the moment. Its internal dialogue is always firing off thoughts filled with emotional content and pulling the individual out of the present and into the past or future. But individuals raised in Western culture are becoming increasingly more aware of their overall sense of mental exhaustion, their lack of discipline and their inability to focus on demand. They are willing to expend the energy necessary to experience inner peace and a quiet mind that is waiting to follow the direction of their will. They are realizing that the endless struggle to fulfill the insatiable appetite of instant gratification is fruitless and tiresome at best. They are ripe for a new path in life and eager for a new set of instructions. This is the purpose of The Practicing Mind. It comprehensively deals with helping the individual understand exactly what present moment awareness is, how we are raised in a manner contradictory to this, and how we change our mindset to make this a part of our daily living. This book is accessible to readers of all philosophical backgrounds. Regardless of your perspective, you will find the book's insights most compelling.
You can find the wisdom of both The Practicing Mind and The Meditating Mind in the combination The Total Mindset.
For your convenience, THE PRACTICING MIND is now in mp3 CD audiobook format.
You can find the wisdom of both The Practicing Mind and The Meditating Mind in the combination The Total Mindset.
For your convenience, THE PRACTICING MIND is now in mp3 CD audiobook format.
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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May 11, 2021
The idea of this book is to make the process enjoyable in achieving a goal. When you focus only on the goal or the end result, then you get impatient, bored and frustrated with your process. Let go of the attachment to the product, be present, if you do so, you put all your energy in the practice which brings inner peace and self-confidence.
The problem with the results is, it’s displeasing. Let’s say, you wanted to do 10 push-ups for a week, and when it’s done, you set a new and tough goal. Just like the sailor trying to reach the horizon, the more effort he puts in to get near, the more disappointed he gets at the dawn of next day by looking at the horizon which is much farther.
Why do we feel work as boring? It’s because we prejudged it, we made a conscious decision that if we enjoy an activity then it’s not work. If you have a lot of work pending, it’s because you’ve been putting it off for a while and it piled up. Change the approach by simplifying the huge tasks into small subtasks, complete each task in a short duration.
Be patient. Experiencing impatience is one of the first symptoms of not being in the present moment and not staying process-oriented. Make the process the goal and use the overall goal as a rudder to steer your efforts.
The problem with the results is, it’s displeasing. Let’s say, you wanted to do 10 push-ups for a week, and when it’s done, you set a new and tough goal. Just like the sailor trying to reach the horizon, the more effort he puts in to get near, the more disappointed he gets at the dawn of next day by looking at the horizon which is much farther.
Why do we feel work as boring? It’s because we prejudged it, we made a conscious decision that if we enjoy an activity then it’s not work. If you have a lot of work pending, it’s because you’ve been putting it off for a while and it piled up. Change the approach by simplifying the huge tasks into small subtasks, complete each task in a short duration.
Be patient. Experiencing impatience is one of the first symptoms of not being in the present moment and not staying process-oriented. Make the process the goal and use the overall goal as a rudder to steer your efforts.
March 17, 2013
As a procrastinator and a bit of a dreamer I am finding this short book incredibly helpful. Thomas Sterner uses his own life story as a musician, piano tuner, parent and student to present an effective and rather liberating approach to practice. I say liberating because because Sterner advises using a detached, non-judgemental approach to practice feedback which, paradoxically perhaps, makes it easier to keep yourself happily immersed in the practice process.
I was lucky enough to go skiing a couple of weeks ago, which can be frustrating because I've been a few times over the years but never frequently enough to get really confident. This time I quite naturally started using the Practicing Mind approach on my pre-ski-school day, polishing my turns on some relatively easy runs, and by the time I got into class I was turning mindfully and correctly even on slopes which would have rattled me in the past. To my astonishment, I was literally applauded by our ESF instructor after one descent, for practicing and assimilating her tips.
If you read this and want to take it further by following up Sterner's hints about the helpfulness of meditation, I'd recommend Martin Borosen's "One Moment Master" for absolute beginners, and Martine Batchelor's "Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits" to follow that. If you are wondering whether you could make this part of a corporate culture, there's a surprising amount of overlap with another book I happened to read recently, Mike Rother's "Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Superior Results".
I was lucky enough to go skiing a couple of weeks ago, which can be frustrating because I've been a few times over the years but never frequently enough to get really confident. This time I quite naturally started using the Practicing Mind approach on my pre-ski-school day, polishing my turns on some relatively easy runs, and by the time I got into class I was turning mindfully and correctly even on slopes which would have rattled me in the past. To my astonishment, I was literally applauded by our ESF instructor after one descent, for practicing and assimilating her tips.
If you read this and want to take it further by following up Sterner's hints about the helpfulness of meditation, I'd recommend Martin Borosen's "One Moment Master" for absolute beginners, and Martine Batchelor's "Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits" to follow that. If you are wondering whether you could make this part of a corporate culture, there's a surprising amount of overlap with another book I happened to read recently, Mike Rother's "Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Superior Results".
September 27, 2014
I enjoyed this book as a review of some familiar fundamentals that are so HARD to actually put into practice (pun intended). The book celebrates deliberate practice with themes of presence (mindfulness), awareness, and non-judgment. Highlights for me included:
* Mastery is self-control and self-control requires an awareness of our thoughts: "If you are not in control of your thoughts, then you are not in control of yourself. Without self-control, you have no real power, regardless of whatever else you accomplish. If you are not aware of the thoughts that you think in each moment, then you are the rider with no reins, with no power over where you are going. You cannot control what you are not aware of. Awareness must come first."
* If we want to change our thoughts, we need to become aware of them: "Who is this second party who is aware that you are aware? The answer is your true self. The one who is talking is your ego or personality. The one who is quietly aware is who you really are: the Observer. The more closely you become aligned with the quiet Observer, the less you judge. Your internal dialogue begins to shut down, and you become more detached about the various external stimuli that come at you all day long. You begin to actually view your internal dialogue with an unbiased (and sometimes amused) perspective."
* It is a trap to focus too much on the product (goal) rather than the process: "What these are all saying is 'focus on the process, not the product that the process was meant to achieve.' It’s a paradox. When you focus on the process, the desired product takes care of itself with fluid ease. When you focus on the product, you immediately begin to fight yourself and experience boredom, restlessness, frustration, and impatience with the process. The reason for this is not hard to understand. When you focus your mind on the present moment, on the process of what you are doing right now, you are always where you want to be and where you should be. All your energy goes into what you are doing. However, when you focus your mind on where you want to end up, you are never where you are, and you exhaust your energy with unrelated thoughts instead of putting it into what you are doing. In order to focus on the present, we must give up, at least temporarily, our attachment to our desired goal."
* Same theme, but illustrated nicely: "I once read an interview with a coach for the U.S. Olympic archery team. He commented that the biggest problem he faced in coaching the American team was that they were fixated on their scores, or the result of their shots. It was as if they were drawing the bow and releasing the arrow only to hit the bull’s-eye and earn a good score. This was in contrast to the Asian teams, who, having grown up in different cultures, were consumed in the process of properly executing the technique that led up to releasing the shot. Where the arrow hit the target was almost unimportant compared to the motion of drawing the bow correctly and releasing the shot. They viewed the result with an almost detached indifference. For them, the desired goal was a natural result of prioritizing the proper technique of drawing the bow. They operated in a completely different paradigm, and because of it, they were very difficult to beat."
* Again, same concept but with goal as rudder: "When you stay on purpose, focused in the present moment, the goal comes toward you with frictionless ease. However, when you constantly focus on the goal you are aiming for, you push it away instead of pulling it toward you. In every moment that you look at the goal and compare your position to it, you affirm to yourself that you haven’t reached it. In reality, you need to acknowledge the goal to yourself only occasionally, using it as a rudder to keep you moving in the right direction."
* Radical concept (I think) that the difference between fun and work is often just a decision (i.e., how we think about it): "I have found that the only difference between the two sorts of activities is that we prejudge them. We make a conscious decision that if we enjoy an activity, it is not work. So we must temporarily suspend our definition of work as referring to our daily vocation. Work, in this discussion, refers to any activity we don’t feel like doing, and though it could certainly include our job duties, or at least parts of them, it could also include any activity that we think is 'undesirable'."
* Four S Words: Simplify (When you work at a specific project or activity, simplify it by breaking it down into its component sections. Don’t set goals that are too far beyond your reach. Unrealistic goals create frustration and invite failure, which can make you doubt your abilities. The success of attaining each simple goal will generate motivation that propels you along in the process, and you won’t suffer the mental fatigue you experience when you bite off more than you can chew); Small (... break down the overall goal into small sections that can be achieved with a comfortable amount of concentration. You will find that focusing on small sections is easier than focusing on the entire task and gives you repeatable success); Short (You can survive just about anything for forty-five minutes.); Slow (Incorporating slowness into your process is a paradox. What I mean by slow is that you work at a pace that allows you to pay attention to what you are doing.)
* For me personally, aside from presence (and it is closely related), the practice of NON-JUDGMENT seems absolutely essential: "Judgment requires the process of evaluation, the process of comparison. This requires a point of relativity, an ideal. As I mentioned earlier in the book, judgments are always based on some preconceived idea of perfection. There is always an imagined ideal item, experience, or circumstance that allows us and even compels us to pass judgment. We compare the present situation either to an imagined ideal situation of the same nature or to a past situation of the same nature. When you are unaware that judgments are happening, they become self-perpetuating, and the 'ideal' is always evolving."
* Mastery is self-control and self-control requires an awareness of our thoughts: "If you are not in control of your thoughts, then you are not in control of yourself. Without self-control, you have no real power, regardless of whatever else you accomplish. If you are not aware of the thoughts that you think in each moment, then you are the rider with no reins, with no power over where you are going. You cannot control what you are not aware of. Awareness must come first."
* If we want to change our thoughts, we need to become aware of them: "Who is this second party who is aware that you are aware? The answer is your true self. The one who is talking is your ego or personality. The one who is quietly aware is who you really are: the Observer. The more closely you become aligned with the quiet Observer, the less you judge. Your internal dialogue begins to shut down, and you become more detached about the various external stimuli that come at you all day long. You begin to actually view your internal dialogue with an unbiased (and sometimes amused) perspective."
* It is a trap to focus too much on the product (goal) rather than the process: "What these are all saying is 'focus on the process, not the product that the process was meant to achieve.' It’s a paradox. When you focus on the process, the desired product takes care of itself with fluid ease. When you focus on the product, you immediately begin to fight yourself and experience boredom, restlessness, frustration, and impatience with the process. The reason for this is not hard to understand. When you focus your mind on the present moment, on the process of what you are doing right now, you are always where you want to be and where you should be. All your energy goes into what you are doing. However, when you focus your mind on where you want to end up, you are never where you are, and you exhaust your energy with unrelated thoughts instead of putting it into what you are doing. In order to focus on the present, we must give up, at least temporarily, our attachment to our desired goal."
* Same theme, but illustrated nicely: "I once read an interview with a coach for the U.S. Olympic archery team. He commented that the biggest problem he faced in coaching the American team was that they were fixated on their scores, or the result of their shots. It was as if they were drawing the bow and releasing the arrow only to hit the bull’s-eye and earn a good score. This was in contrast to the Asian teams, who, having grown up in different cultures, were consumed in the process of properly executing the technique that led up to releasing the shot. Where the arrow hit the target was almost unimportant compared to the motion of drawing the bow correctly and releasing the shot. They viewed the result with an almost detached indifference. For them, the desired goal was a natural result of prioritizing the proper technique of drawing the bow. They operated in a completely different paradigm, and because of it, they were very difficult to beat."
* Again, same concept but with goal as rudder: "When you stay on purpose, focused in the present moment, the goal comes toward you with frictionless ease. However, when you constantly focus on the goal you are aiming for, you push it away instead of pulling it toward you. In every moment that you look at the goal and compare your position to it, you affirm to yourself that you haven’t reached it. In reality, you need to acknowledge the goal to yourself only occasionally, using it as a rudder to keep you moving in the right direction."
* Radical concept (I think) that the difference between fun and work is often just a decision (i.e., how we think about it): "I have found that the only difference between the two sorts of activities is that we prejudge them. We make a conscious decision that if we enjoy an activity, it is not work. So we must temporarily suspend our definition of work as referring to our daily vocation. Work, in this discussion, refers to any activity we don’t feel like doing, and though it could certainly include our job duties, or at least parts of them, it could also include any activity that we think is 'undesirable'."
* Four S Words: Simplify (When you work at a specific project or activity, simplify it by breaking it down into its component sections. Don’t set goals that are too far beyond your reach. Unrealistic goals create frustration and invite failure, which can make you doubt your abilities. The success of attaining each simple goal will generate motivation that propels you along in the process, and you won’t suffer the mental fatigue you experience when you bite off more than you can chew); Small (... break down the overall goal into small sections that can be achieved with a comfortable amount of concentration. You will find that focusing on small sections is easier than focusing on the entire task and gives you repeatable success); Short (You can survive just about anything for forty-five minutes.); Slow (Incorporating slowness into your process is a paradox. What I mean by slow is that you work at a pace that allows you to pay attention to what you are doing.)
* For me personally, aside from presence (and it is closely related), the practice of NON-JUDGMENT seems absolutely essential: "Judgment requires the process of evaluation, the process of comparison. This requires a point of relativity, an ideal. As I mentioned earlier in the book, judgments are always based on some preconceived idea of perfection. There is always an imagined ideal item, experience, or circumstance that allows us and even compels us to pass judgment. We compare the present situation either to an imagined ideal situation of the same nature or to a past situation of the same nature. When you are unaware that judgments are happening, they become self-perpetuating, and the 'ideal' is always evolving."
August 10, 2018
Phenomenal!
This book is great. It's not merely some ordinary self help. It's actually a deeply spiritual book that provides truly meaningful insights about your mind and real self.
This book is great. It's not merely some ordinary self help. It's actually a deeply spiritual book that provides truly meaningful insights about your mind and real self.
August 8, 2012
"The Practicing Mind" is a short, no-fluff book that offers powerful lessons on self-discipline and better practice.
My key takeaways:
-If you slow down and act deliberately, the results will come.
-Setting goals is a great way to drive yourself forward, but never feel unsatisfied with where you're at... enjoy where you're at, be thankful for what you've accomplished, and know that you're exactly where you should be in your skills based on the time and effort you've spent to get there.
-Mindfulness, discipline, and process will carry you a long, long way.
-Avoid instant-gratification. Too often we think we want the cool new toy, or clothes, or whatever that we see... but very rarely do such things actually contribute to our overall happiness. Happiness comes from within. Also, if we avoid instant-gratification (accumulating things as soon as we're excited about them), and instead wait a while (perhaps save up for the purchase or wait to reward ourselves for an accomplishment) the new thing will be that much more important because it wasn't based on a desire to get something now, but rather something that we earned and truly wanted.
-Always consider the big picture. So many of our 'things' come and go, but by instead investing in 'ourselves' we can accumulate a wealth of skills and expertise, as well as develop habits for a happy, well-balanced, and successful life.
My key takeaways:
-If you slow down and act deliberately, the results will come.
-Setting goals is a great way to drive yourself forward, but never feel unsatisfied with where you're at... enjoy where you're at, be thankful for what you've accomplished, and know that you're exactly where you should be in your skills based on the time and effort you've spent to get there.
-Mindfulness, discipline, and process will carry you a long, long way.
-Avoid instant-gratification. Too often we think we want the cool new toy, or clothes, or whatever that we see... but very rarely do such things actually contribute to our overall happiness. Happiness comes from within. Also, if we avoid instant-gratification (accumulating things as soon as we're excited about them), and instead wait a while (perhaps save up for the purchase or wait to reward ourselves for an accomplishment) the new thing will be that much more important because it wasn't based on a desire to get something now, but rather something that we earned and truly wanted.
-Always consider the big picture. So many of our 'things' come and go, but by instead investing in 'ourselves' we can accumulate a wealth of skills and expertise, as well as develop habits for a happy, well-balanced, and successful life.
August 22, 2016
Thomas M. Sterner wasn’t kidding when he said:
“[He] wanted [his] book to be the one that you could pick up at any time and open to any page and start reading. [He] wanted [his] readers to be able to remember it’s few ideas without much effort and without the need to flip back through pages to find them.”
It is exactly how I felt about this book. It is literally something you can pick up anytime and gain wisdom from right away.
Reading this book was an incredibly empowering experience. It refreshed my mind and gave me a whole new perspective on how to approach my goals.
Overall, I feel more efficient as a person when I have one of these books in my life. I am more able to keep myself calm and away from frustration during the process of working towards my goals.
This book reminds me to be process-oriented rather than goal-oriented. With this mindset, I am able to experience the beauty and the joy of the journey.
My main takeaways from this book:
- Have self-discipline, stay focused and be completely present while enjoying the process.
- Avoid instant-gratification and dis-empowering questions like: Can I ever ever achieve this goal? It this really meant to be?
- We should be aware of how we are doing and continually make efforts to improve and get closer towards our goals.
Reading reviews and book summaries does not do this book justice. Go out and read it to get the full experience!!!!
“[He] wanted [his] book to be the one that you could pick up at any time and open to any page and start reading. [He] wanted [his] readers to be able to remember it’s few ideas without much effort and without the need to flip back through pages to find them.”
It is exactly how I felt about this book. It is literally something you can pick up anytime and gain wisdom from right away.
Reading this book was an incredibly empowering experience. It refreshed my mind and gave me a whole new perspective on how to approach my goals.
Overall, I feel more efficient as a person when I have one of these books in my life. I am more able to keep myself calm and away from frustration during the process of working towards my goals.
This book reminds me to be process-oriented rather than goal-oriented. With this mindset, I am able to experience the beauty and the joy of the journey.
My main takeaways from this book:
- Have self-discipline, stay focused and be completely present while enjoying the process.
- Avoid instant-gratification and dis-empowering questions like: Can I ever ever achieve this goal? It this really meant to be?
- We should be aware of how we are doing and continually make efforts to improve and get closer towards our goals.
Reading reviews and book summaries does not do this book justice. Go out and read it to get the full experience!!!!
October 15, 2017
Being disciplined is a lifestyle, and this book provides practical steps towards cultivating this life-changing skill.
August 27, 2023
*3.5 stars
It reiterates the need to be aware and present in the present moment, to be immersed in the process of achieving your goal, in a simple and engaging language.
It reiterates the need to be aware and present in the present moment, to be immersed in the process of achieving your goal, in a simple and engaging language.
December 21, 2016
This is a book I listened to for free on Audible Channels. It’s ironic because I usually can’t listen to an audiobook while working because I cannot focus solely upon it and this book is all about focusing upon what you are doing at THIS moment. Surprisingly, I was able (at least I feel I was able) to multi-task, listening and working. Granted, this is a slow time of the year and the work right now is not too arduous.
Again, this is another book where there isn't anything new. I’ve been on a little streak in which I’m encountering books where everything seems to be a rehash of what I already know. Could it be possible that I now know everything? LOL.
This book was less than a four hour listen and can be summed up by shifting from product to process. In other words, focus on what you are doing now as opposed to the future goal. If you are trying to learn a new skill, focus on the practice (what you are doing now) and don’t think about your ultimate goal for which you are undertaking the practice. Be in the present by simply learning and doing. This combines some Eastern philosophy which I encountered during my years of yoga practice (no mind, focus on what you’re doing now) with The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast. Simplify your activity, keep it short and take it slow, but keep at it.
As 99% of the narration I hear is typically great, I don’t comment on it unless there is something particular about which I need to call out. In this case, the narrator is also the author. His speech pattern of over enunciation was grating and sounded preachy. It was so annoying that if I paid for this one, I would have returned it.
Again, this is another book where there isn't anything new. I’ve been on a little streak in which I’m encountering books where everything seems to be a rehash of what I already know. Could it be possible that I now know everything? LOL.
This book was less than a four hour listen and can be summed up by shifting from product to process. In other words, focus on what you are doing now as opposed to the future goal. If you are trying to learn a new skill, focus on the practice (what you are doing now) and don’t think about your ultimate goal for which you are undertaking the practice. Be in the present by simply learning and doing. This combines some Eastern philosophy which I encountered during my years of yoga practice (no mind, focus on what you’re doing now) with The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast. Simplify your activity, keep it short and take it slow, but keep at it.
As 99% of the narration I hear is typically great, I don’t comment on it unless there is something particular about which I need to call out. In this case, the narrator is also the author. His speech pattern of over enunciation was grating and sounded preachy. It was so annoying that if I paid for this one, I would have returned it.
February 6, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. It's short, concise and simple to understand.
The book talks about how one should be mindful of the process, and not waste their time/energy focusing only on the final product.
The book talks about how one should be mindful of the process, and not waste their time/energy focusing only on the final product.
December 14, 2015
This is one of the best books I've ever read on focusing the process and enjoying the journey toward your goals. The big idea of the book is that all of life is practice in one form or another. And that real peace and contentment in our lives come from realizing that life is a process to engage in, a journey down a path that we can choose to experience. When we subtly shift toward both focusing on and finding joy in the process of achieving instead of having the goal, we have gained a new skill. And once mastered, it is incredibly empowering. Basically with deliberate and repeated effort, progress is inevitable. A lot things mentioned in the book can be applied the journey in fitness and business.
September 23, 2012
A great book about how to approach practice and goals. Sometimes we miss the joy and beauty inherent in the process of pursuing a target, and instead fixate on the target itself. (Am I there yet? Why am I not there yet? Why is progress so slow? Maybe I should just quit.)
The author’s main suggestions are to practice awareness and non-judgement. You should be aware of how you’re doing and continually correct your efforts so that you’re moving closer and closer to your goal. However, you should not chide yourself when you fail because that’s part of the learning process, and you should not get caught up in praising yourself when you do well. Just be aware of the results of your efforts and continue adjusting your course until you reach your goal. Try to be completely present in what you are doing instead of dwelling on the target while absent-mindedly going through the motions. This is one of those books I’ll probably end up re-reading every year or two.
The author’s main suggestions are to practice awareness and non-judgement. You should be aware of how you’re doing and continually correct your efforts so that you’re moving closer and closer to your goal. However, you should not chide yourself when you fail because that’s part of the learning process, and you should not get caught up in praising yourself when you do well. Just be aware of the results of your efforts and continue adjusting your course until you reach your goal. Try to be completely present in what you are doing instead of dwelling on the target while absent-mindedly going through the motions. This is one of those books I’ll probably end up re-reading every year or two.
January 6, 2016
I can't understand all the 5 star reviews. This book seems to be a bunch of random thoughts and ideas pieced together without any organization. Perhaps I expect too much, but when I read a non-fiction self-help book like this I expect the author to describe the problem to be solved, a hypothesis of how to solve the problem, supporting evidence, summary, conclusion. Instead this book is written in a style I can only describe as stream of consciousness. The book cannot decide whether it is a book about self-discipline, a book about golf, piano tuning, Eastern philosophy, a biography, etc. etc. etc. The book itself is an example of a lack of focus.
January 2, 2019
process is more important than product, and staying in the present yields great results, and i know that these things are absolutely true! but as it turns out, i'm a ding-dong who would rather look at pictures of baby animals on my phone for an hour than achieve my dreams and goals.
that's why i am also a ding-dong who reads lots of self-help books that remind me to practice my guitar
that's why i am also a ding-dong who reads lots of self-help books that remind me to practice my guitar
April 15, 2024
Listened to this over the past couple of days on my commute.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Practical advice to help quieten the mind. I sure can use more of that.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Practical advice to help quieten the mind. I sure can use more of that.
February 27, 2019
This is one of those books you should keep reading from time to time. It's not because it's hard to understand, but because living in this world nowadays, we need to keep reminding ourselves that life doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't appear to me as something groundbreaking that I never know about, but I really enjoy reading it from his perspective. It just feels peaceful and calm.
September 30, 2020
This book is simple and short, but another important puzzle piece toward success. To someone who hasn't been good at practicing, this could be life changing.
I like the author's personal examples. He clearly has practiced practicing.
This book advocates being in the present moment, being mindful, and focusing on process rather than end product. In school and at home, I was taught that grades matter more than learning. I have been product focused and have suffered greatly in my creative efforts as a result. I've even given up on some things where I could have excelled if I was patient. Now I understand why being focused on the end result doesn't really work. I've always compared my creative efforts to ideals (sometimes to my amazing siblings) and found myself wanting. Among many other things, the author talks about being an observer of ourselves rather than judges.
That reminds me of an art class I took in college. Once I quit looking at my neighbors' work and focused on my own I did very well. It's not just other people we can compare ourselves to, but also our past selves or an ideal. That is not helpful while learning to do something.
"A paradox of life: The problem with patience and discipline is that developing each of them requires both of them."
I like the author's "DOC" way of looking at situations. "DOC" stands for "Do, Observe, Correct." Rather than harshly judging ourselves as we practice, we can simply observe our process and make corrections while keeping the goal within sight.
He says to create a "practicing mind" there are some 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 remain aware of that intention."
The author says because we are no longer in survival mode, we can choose how we focus our energy:
"On one path, you can spend at least a portion of this free time on expanding your spiritual awareness, your knowledge of your true self. The other path leads away from this truth into an endless cycle of meaningless self-indulgence that, at its core, is an attempt to fill the spiritual void that many of us experience in our lives."
I like the author's personal examples. He clearly has practiced practicing.
This book advocates being in the present moment, being mindful, and focusing on process rather than end product. In school and at home, I was taught that grades matter more than learning. I have been product focused and have suffered greatly in my creative efforts as a result. I've even given up on some things where I could have excelled if I was patient. Now I understand why being focused on the end result doesn't really work. I've always compared my creative efforts to ideals (sometimes to my amazing siblings) and found myself wanting. Among many other things, the author talks about being an observer of ourselves rather than judges.
That reminds me of an art class I took in college. Once I quit looking at my neighbors' work and focused on my own I did very well. It's not just other people we can compare ourselves to, but also our past selves or an ideal. That is not helpful while learning to do something.
"A paradox of life: The problem with patience and discipline is that developing each of them requires both of them."
I like the author's "DOC" way of looking at situations. "DOC" stands for "Do, Observe, Correct." Rather than harshly judging ourselves as we practice, we can simply observe our process and make corrections while keeping the goal within sight.
He says to create a "practicing mind" there are some 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 remain aware of that intention."
The author says because we are no longer in survival mode, we can choose how we focus our energy:
"On one path, you can spend at least a portion of this free time on expanding your spiritual awareness, your knowledge of your true self. The other path leads away from this truth into an endless cycle of meaningless self-indulgence that, at its core, is an attempt to fill the spiritual void that many of us experience in our lives."
June 29, 2013
This book is one you won't want to miss if you're dedicated to becoming good at just about anything. I've struggled with various endeavours over the years, and while I've made progress, I feel I could have made more progress if I had read this book earlier. What the author shares is not new information, but he makes that clear right from the start. This book offers a new frame to look at the issue of practice and staying in the moment, which in this context are almost synonymous if you want to improve your skills while reducing frustration.
The author writes clearly and his tone is encouraging while holding onto reality. He didn't ever make a claim that resulted In me rolling my eyes while muttering "yeah right".
The book is great, and it's one I'd certainly recommend. I'll refer back to it from time to time, because, as the author stated, the principles taught here need to be revisited because they are easily forgotten as life presents us with new challenges that can make it easy to fall into old self destructive habits.
After all the positive things I have to say, why have I given this book three stars? When I see a book with three stars, I usually think " it's not bad, it's not good and it's probably not worth my time" that's not what I'm saying here, though. I've given this book three stars because I feel it could have been shorter. The first three or so chapters were full of wisdom and left me thirsty for more. While the other chapters provided some value, I was not as energised as I read them and I often found myself skimming whole pages because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. It goes without saying that I believe this book would have been better had it been shorter.
I want to stress that this is a book I liked. I liked it a lot. And if you're a person that finds it hard to practice and feel frustration as you try to acquire a new skill, then you won't regret reading it.
I would also recommend the "Zen in the art in the art of archery" that's another great book with practically the same message. However that author understood that less is more and therefore wrote a book with a stronger message that hits home with more impact.
The author writes clearly and his tone is encouraging while holding onto reality. He didn't ever make a claim that resulted In me rolling my eyes while muttering "yeah right".
The book is great, and it's one I'd certainly recommend. I'll refer back to it from time to time, because, as the author stated, the principles taught here need to be revisited because they are easily forgotten as life presents us with new challenges that can make it easy to fall into old self destructive habits.
After all the positive things I have to say, why have I given this book three stars? When I see a book with three stars, I usually think " it's not bad, it's not good and it's probably not worth my time" that's not what I'm saying here, though. I've given this book three stars because I feel it could have been shorter. The first three or so chapters were full of wisdom and left me thirsty for more. While the other chapters provided some value, I was not as energised as I read them and I often found myself skimming whole pages because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. It goes without saying that I believe this book would have been better had it been shorter.
I want to stress that this is a book I liked. I liked it a lot. And if you're a person that finds it hard to practice and feel frustration as you try to acquire a new skill, then you won't regret reading it.
I would also recommend the "Zen in the art in the art of archery" that's another great book with practically the same message. However that author understood that less is more and therefore wrote a book with a stronger message that hits home with more impact.
April 5, 2017
This is a great short book about focusing and being present. It's written by a lay person which m, to me, is precise why it's more applicable than those who are written by mental health professionals. I'm dubiously skeptical of mindfulness that has been "codified" by therapists. It defeats the entire purpose in my opinion.
So it was refreshing to read this about a real person who, through trial and error, learned to adopt and implement being present and mindful into his daily life. This isn't ground breaking but it is very useful to see mindfulness stripped from its clinical terms- and dare I say, even its spiritual basis. While we certainly know of mindfulness Eastern origins, this book helps by discussing practical tips on implementing this into our daily lives.
So it was refreshing to read this about a real person who, through trial and error, learned to adopt and implement being present and mindful into his daily life. This isn't ground breaking but it is very useful to see mindfulness stripped from its clinical terms- and dare I say, even its spiritual basis. While we certainly know of mindfulness Eastern origins, this book helps by discussing practical tips on implementing this into our daily lives.
February 8, 2014
To judge the book by its subtitle, "Bringing Discipline and Focus into you Life," it's a start, but only a start. The author has a nice style, blending autobiography, warm advice, eastern philosophy, performance psychology, and some business applications. The first two chapters make some good points, and "The Four 'S' Words" contains some good practical advice. Mostly, though, it's repetitive and doesn't go into much depth. There is better out there on this topic.
August 18, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book. It’s short and simple while also teaching what I always believed which is enjoying the process of the journey in whatever you’re pursuing. I also like the tools that were given on how to live in the present moment and how to deal with stress. The author approach is straightforward and easy to understand along with great examples that I could personally relate to. This is a book I would likely come back and refer to. Great read!
January 10, 2021
This book has nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout. A nice thing about this book is that the thoughts are put across in a simple and straight-forward manner for us to understand. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is working on self-development.
July 20, 2019
If you can get past the author’s intellectual elitism (“I don’t watch TV because there’s nothing interesting on” and “I was mostly an A student”) and contradictory statements (“I was watching a TV show about snakes” and “I got a D in math”), then you might find is wide sweeping generalizations amusing.
I’ll save you the time in reading this book with a summation: Slow down and correct mistakes when you see them. Yup, great life lessons. Thanks.
I’ll save you the time in reading this book with a summation: Slow down and correct mistakes when you see them. Yup, great life lessons. Thanks.
January 11, 2016
I did like this book as a whole, but there were a few key concepts that were pushed by Sterner that I felt were up for debate. The whole premise of this book is to tear down this idealistic sense of "perfect", of avoiding the unnecessary expenditure of energy towards worrying and stress, but then, as I've read in other books like this, the author makes a statement (unknowingly or knowingly) in which he perpetuates the very standards he has set himself in opposition of; Sterner uses the very "product, not process" argument that he has set himself against in his own favor, explicitly stating, "...we must take on this challenge if we are to achieve any real happiness..." (134) as if our current mindsets result in happiness that is somehow "not real"—it belittles and devalues what we currently have, turning us towards a goal with an award that includes "real happiness". Then, aren't we just driven by the product, not the process, with wording like that? A single sentence can tear down an entire idea—that's the only reason it bothered me so much. This wonderful idea is propagated throughout the book, but then the idea itself is, or can be, formed by the very values that were supposed to be replaced. I concede that it is how each reader interprets it, but it is a point that I feel like is important to the overarching concept presented by the book.
August 21, 2015
I've never been a big fan of zen or meditation. I pass on pretty much everything in the genre, and am rarely impressed when I do pick up a title. This book changed all my expectations as to what a book in this genre could do.
Thomas. M. Sterner makes a wonderful case for how we are all practicing at all times, and how our conduct during every activity effects us through life. His prose is eloquent but forceful. He simply omits needless words. It's stirring how someone who claims to not know much about writing can pen a passage with such vigor.
A passion for life is communicated through his words. It will have you seeing everything through a new lens. This is a philosophical book that anyone of any creed could pick up and get something out of; a daunting task if there ever was one.
I don't like the cover he's used with some of his prints, with the Asian influence prominent. I do not begrudge Asia it's traditions or it's influence, but this book could appeal to performers in so many fields. It's a shame to think it could be grouped in with a genre with so much muddled and clunky self-help masquerading as spiritual guidance.
A great read for anyone who needs to be more patient in their day-to-day life, or who needs to perform at a top level in their job.
Thomas. M. Sterner makes a wonderful case for how we are all practicing at all times, and how our conduct during every activity effects us through life. His prose is eloquent but forceful. He simply omits needless words. It's stirring how someone who claims to not know much about writing can pen a passage with such vigor.
A passion for life is communicated through his words. It will have you seeing everything through a new lens. This is a philosophical book that anyone of any creed could pick up and get something out of; a daunting task if there ever was one.
I don't like the cover he's used with some of his prints, with the Asian influence prominent. I do not begrudge Asia it's traditions or it's influence, but this book could appeal to performers in so many fields. It's a shame to think it could be grouped in with a genre with so much muddled and clunky self-help masquerading as spiritual guidance.
A great read for anyone who needs to be more patient in their day-to-day life, or who needs to perform at a top level in their job.
October 15, 2012
I agree with certain aspects of this book, like the need to become more focussed on the process, but i don't agree on all this talk about Eastern Psychology/Philosophy (which seems to be the latest trend on which to make money), first of all being in the PRESENT, is so vague,we can't be completely in the present and that is a good thing, but i think that rather than being in the PRESENT it's good to specify "Be as close to the present as possible",
second this thing about not judging is also very vague as judgement is unavoidable.
The superior performances of the Eastern people are also mentioned through the book , but is it really like that? When i see the Olympics and i consider the populations of the specific countries i see that the Western countries are doing far better than the Eastern ones.
It is also mentioned how the Japanese are so process oriented rather than result oriented which is not true in my eyes. The Japanese people are heavily stressed by work and very result oriented.
second this thing about not judging is also very vague as judgement is unavoidable.
The superior performances of the Eastern people are also mentioned through the book , but is it really like that? When i see the Olympics and i consider the populations of the specific countries i see that the Western countries are doing far better than the Eastern ones.
It is also mentioned how the Japanese are so process oriented rather than result oriented which is not true in my eyes. The Japanese people are heavily stressed by work and very result oriented.
September 25, 2012
Great, powerful message, clearly delivered.
The style seed earnest but a bit pedantic (although I would not know how to do better)
Worth reading and thinking about when you have at least a couple of unrushed weeks to digest and try it out. Or read it now to plant a seed of discontent with goal/product (vs. process) oriented thinking.
I'd love to know more about effectiveness of the approach in science. It seems Feynman used to use this kind of approach to get over burnout, and it is used in coaching. Great athletes/scientists maybe also become great by loving their activity more than others. Royce Gracie, various chess players, etc seem to echo this (do what you love and maybe learn to love even more the process of what you do)
Loving an activity is an attainable skill/state, not a fixed quantity, I think (and maybe hope)
August 29, 2015
This book contains mostly personal observations and experiences rather than a multi-subject research study, thus is akin to personal advice solely from the author’s perspective. There are good guidelines for getting on track in terms of consistent performance, but it is more a result of author's own brainstorming than a well-rounded list of possibilities from different sources. As such, convincing the reader of the validity and repeatability of the contents depends on the author’s ability to persuade –which is accomplished at times – rather than through its successful use in real world applications across a variety of situations.
September 6, 2015
This is a very enjoyable book written by a wise man. Oozes with Zen Buddhism and is little more than some simple and practical thoughts about awareness and changing your thinking away from a 'goal / result - oriented' mindset towards a 'process' mindset which brings enjoyment and peace (versus insecurity / thinking everything will be better if you can just achieve something or own something) and improves your self (via new thinking). Given that this was written before the spate of books on habit and triggers and the like, quite prescient.
April 19, 2016
This book has appeared in my life at the perfect time .. as I am currently revising for exams. It will help you to understand the importance of the process to your goals rather than the goal itself (which is the opposite of what society teaches us to value). It remind me of a great quote by Henry David Thoreau who said “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” :)
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