“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” —Zen Proverb
Recently, I became a full-time writer.
Since making the change, friends and acquaintances have asked often how I enjoy my new role in the world. I typically respond by saying, “Well, you know what they say… I hate writing, but I enjoy having written.” I’ll go on to describe the difficult and unsexy writing process. But then I’ll describe how wonderful it feels to finish something that will be read and will live on to be picked up by any person, anywhere, at any point in the future. It’s a wonderful feeling really. And the quote is actually a pretty good description of the process.
But there’s one problem with my response—it focuses all joy on the outcome rather than the journey. It finds fulfillment in the product, but not in the process. And this tendency to focus postively on the outcome while lamenting the journey is far too common.
We long for the house to be clean, but hate the steps to get there. We look forward to reaching a desired weight but suffer through the diet or the exercise. We desire the college degree, but despise the homework assignments along the way. We live for the weekend when our work will be done, but complain about the idea of Monday morning coming again so soon.
This approach of only appreciating joy in the outcome robs us of countless moments along the way. When joy is only found in the final product, the rest of our lives are experienced as something to be avoided, endured, or suffered through.
This approach has other short-sighted, negative effects:
- It discounts the role and importance of work and effort in our lives.
- It misses opportunity to celebrate the small steps we take along the way.
- It overlooks the value of exercising discipline.
- It fails to appreciate the value of discomfort in our growth.
There is a better way: Mindfulness. Mindfulness maintains a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surrounding environment. It does not delay joy until the finish line. Instead, it seeks meaning and intentionality throughout each step of the process.
I learned this practice when I first stopped using a dishwasher. While I used to view washing dishes as a chore to be dreaded, I suddenly began to view it as the final step in our meal and an act of service to my family. This new approach began to change the way I viewed this chore and many others.
For exercise, I run without music. As a result, because the distractions have been limited, I am better able to listen to my body. If it feels good, I am free to be alone with myself and my thoughts—not longing for the finish line, but finding joy in every step (or at least, most of them) along the way.
Mindfulness has also changed my view of work and employment. Work is no longer something to be avoided or removed as soon as possible. But work is about contribution. It is about adding value to society and the people around me in exchange for the value they are adding. And there is great joy to be found in it.
There is a Zen proverb quoted at the beginning of this post that often gets modified around my house. It starts to sound like this, “When washing the dishes, wash the dishes. When doing homework, do homework. When playing with your friends, play with your friends. When cleaning the bathroom, clean the bathroom.” Each time, it communicates the same meaning:
Recognize the importance and the joy in your present activity. Be mindful in every moment and each step of the journey. There is indeed great joy to be found in the process—not just in the outcome.
And that feels good to have written.
Linda S Watson says
Synchronicity! My husband and I are two years in to de-cluttering our 40+ years of collecting. Feels good when the stuff is gone, but the sorting and organizing can be a major chore. Memories, guilt about letting some things go, you name it, we can have an attachment to it. However, we’re beginning to see the changes in our lifestyle and liking them, a lot. Then, I find your blog. Yes, synchronicity, thank you, Spirit.
Carole says
I have found something that helps me with the guilt of letting something go is to take a photograph of it. That way, the item may be gone, but I still have whatever memories may be attached to it. A photo takes up a lot less space. :-)
Christy King says
Oddly, knitting helped me with this immensely. I used to get so frustrated having to rip out stitches, all that “wasted time,” and over time it taught me patience to the point where I just enjoy the knitting and truly don’t mind at all when I have to start over (well, maybe the 3rd time on the same project….) The amazing part is that this spilled over into the rest of my life.
Sharon says
An amazing post that really hit home for me. The outcome of all your effort is only safisfying for a brief moment before you look toward the next outcome and in between your life passes. Live in the moment and your life will slow down enough to enjoy.
Ashley says
Love this post. My dad always said, “It’s the journey, not the destination.” I also love the bumper sticker I once read that said, “I’d rather be here now.”
I stopped running with music a few years ago and now can’t imagine the distraction of it. I tell my husband, “I’ve solved all my problems on my run.” It allows for such presence in the moment.
Michelle Russell says
Joshua, this is so important…yet mindfulness is so hard!
Part of it, of course, is that in our world of quick sound bites and intrusive mass media which try to hijack our attention any way they can, we’ve become conditioned to focus on externals and have short attention spans.
But part of it–and this is something I struggle with–is that it’s often downright scary to be in the moment with ourselves.
Mindfulness is incredibly important for the reasons you describe. It teaches us to focus on process rather than result, and all the valuable lessons that can be learned therein. And mindfulness feels *wonderful* when you manage to get into that magical flow state–when your attention is completely focused on the thing you’re doing, and you feel like whatever-it-is is being done through you, rather than you being the actor.
But I can’t call that state up at will, and most of the time when I try to practice moment-to-moment awareness, all I’m faced with is myself…and all my shortcomings, whether perceived or real.
Granted, I’m a recovering perfectionist. But how do you rest in mindfulness when your background mental chatter and vague feelings of uneasiness about yourself rise to the surface because there are suddenly no distractions from them?
For me, this is an incredibly rich question, and currently the heart of my journey as a minimalist. I’ve mostly gotten the outer aspects of it down by now–not much clutter, and only the physical things around me that I want. But this inner stuff–how to be present in the moment and appreciate that without spiraling into all the ways I feel I’m not enough–THAT, for me, is the practice right now.
And probably for many years to come. :)
Brenda says
So very well said, I need to continue to work on enjoying the moment. Thanks!
Jackie says
I love this. It’s like the quote I heard before “Wherever you are, be all there”. I continue to work towards that.
Jayme says
I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your posts! They are truly shifting my mindset – filling my heart and life with peace – and teaching me, oh – so much. Thank you!
Karen @ Pieces of Contentment says
Ahh yes, the courage to be patient, mindful and present. Great Zen proverb.
Vincent says
Congratulations again, Joshua! Can’t believe it’s 45 days already… So that means it’s been a while since that day we spent at Co+Hoots huh?
Just wanted to share that my first insight into Mindfulness came from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, The Miracle of Mindfulness.
Jane says
Profound. Actually reminds me of a bible lesson about living for today and don’t worry about tomorrow.