“…an attachment to results (which we can’t control) rather than to the process (which we can control) is what causes us to feel perpetually discontented.” Brian Johnson
The May issue of Experience Life magazine opened my eyes to an approach that may increase my joy while pursuing goals. Brian Johnson’s article ‘Practice, Not Perfection’ outlines the Do, Observe, Correct (or DOC) approach that Thomas Sterner coined in his book, The Practicing Mind.
When I read the article and began researching this topic, I found so many rabbit trails that my mind wanted to explore that I think we will have to make this a little mini-series on developing a practicing mind.
This week let’s explore the fundamentals of what it means to develop a practicing mind. When we set goals we typically have to learn new skills or participate in new experiences. Sterner suggests that learning alone and focusing on the end result is not enough to achieve the success we seek. As a matter of fact, he suggests that learning can be passive while showing up to practice is intentional. He believes that repetition and intention are keys to successfully achieve the goals we’ve set.
Sterner suggests that if you show up with a practicing mind (repetition and intention) using the Do, Observe, Correct (DOC) approach, you will develop the mastery that you seek. To ensure that the journey to your destination is fulfilling, he recommends that you ‘analyze’ and ‘do not judge’ when you observe. Judging tends to add emotions, primarily negative emotions (e.g. I suck at shooting free throws). He suggests that you analyze the data obtained during observation and use it to determine corrective actions (e.g. When I shoot a free throw with a bent wrist, I miss 3 out of 5 shots; when I shoot without bending, I don’t miss any). Sterner implies that using the data (without judgement) to develop corrective action is required to truly enjoy the journey on the way to our goals.
There is so much to say about the impact of setting realistic expectations. However, I will leave that topic for next week’s post. Let’s just recap. Developing a practicing mind means showing up repeatedly with intention to learn and master a new skill or experience. Without judgement, we should use the DOC method to continue to move forward towards our goals. Focusing on the process versus the end result will increase our odds of achieving the end result.
Listen to Brian Johnson’s interview with Thomas Sterner discussing, The Practicing Mind…
Until next week,