Mindfulness is about being completely present and focused on the task at hand and on nothing else - be it having dinner with your family or working on that all important presentation. It is about bringing your attention to what's happening in the present moment.
And by definition, it means letting go of thoughts related to all other things that are unrelated to what's happening in the present moment. Because if you're thinking about what's new on your news feed while having dinner with your family is when you'll take out your phone and open Instagram while zoning out of the conversation that's happening around the table.
This springs from the idea that we need to be completely engaged in what we are doing at the current moment in order to do it well. Because when we are in this state, nothing else will interrupt our thoughts and nothing else will take our attention away from what we are currently experiencing. And this enhances the quality of the experiences that we have.
Having definiteness of purpose ensures the same thing when it comes to achieving our goals.
In his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill tells the story of Edwin Barnes, who goes to Thomas Edison to be in business with him. While he had never met Edison and was a complete stranger to the great inventor, he had a single-minded desire to be in business with him. And he left everything behind and moved towns to meet Edison, who upon hearing out Barnes, offered him a lowly job instead.
However, Edwin Barnes took the job and learnt and grew his skills until one day many years later, an opportunity came up where he could go into business with Thomas Edison as a partner. And he pounced on it.
Napoleon Hill tells this story to highlight the fact that when we pursue something with a single-minded desire, we simply do not give up and do whatever it takes for however long it takes to achieve it.
I started this year with one such desire that I'm committed to pursuing with a single-minded purpose and that has been bringing in so much clarity that nothing seems to be an obstacle.
Just like practicing mindfulness, having a definiteness of purpose will ensure that we do not allow anything else to get in the way of us achieving it - not obstacles, not geography, not our own mind telling us to quit. We just keep going at it without losing motivation, without giving up hope, without being bothered by what others think or expect of us.
It might take me many years like it did Edwin Barnes, but the definiteness of purpose allows me to be unfazed about it.
I have seen several benefits of operating with this definiteness of purpose - ranging from easy prioritization to full-fledged commitment to doing what it takes. The motivation levels soar.
Do this and it will elevate you to the next level. Fuel your day every morning with your definiteness of purpose.
(This is a cross-post from my weekly mail to The 0.7 Club!)
And by definition, it means letting go of thoughts related to all other things that are unrelated to what's happening in the present moment. Because if you're thinking about what's new on your news feed while having dinner with your family is when you'll take out your phone and open Instagram while zoning out of the conversation that's happening around the table.
This springs from the idea that we need to be completely engaged in what we are doing at the current moment in order to do it well. Because when we are in this state, nothing else will interrupt our thoughts and nothing else will take our attention away from what we are currently experiencing. And this enhances the quality of the experiences that we have.
Having definiteness of purpose ensures the same thing when it comes to achieving our goals.
In his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill tells the story of Edwin Barnes, who goes to Thomas Edison to be in business with him. While he had never met Edison and was a complete stranger to the great inventor, he had a single-minded desire to be in business with him. And he left everything behind and moved towns to meet Edison, who upon hearing out Barnes, offered him a lowly job instead.
However, Edwin Barnes took the job and learnt and grew his skills until one day many years later, an opportunity came up where he could go into business with Thomas Edison as a partner. And he pounced on it.
Napoleon Hill tells this story to highlight the fact that when we pursue something with a single-minded desire, we simply do not give up and do whatever it takes for however long it takes to achieve it.
I started this year with one such desire that I'm committed to pursuing with a single-minded purpose and that has been bringing in so much clarity that nothing seems to be an obstacle.
Just like practicing mindfulness, having a definiteness of purpose will ensure that we do not allow anything else to get in the way of us achieving it - not obstacles, not geography, not our own mind telling us to quit. We just keep going at it without losing motivation, without giving up hope, without being bothered by what others think or expect of us.
It might take me many years like it did Edwin Barnes, but the definiteness of purpose allows me to be unfazed about it.
I have seen several benefits of operating with this definiteness of purpose - ranging from easy prioritization to full-fledged commitment to doing what it takes. The motivation levels soar.
Do this and it will elevate you to the next level. Fuel your day every morning with your definiteness of purpose.
(This is a cross-post from my weekly mail to The 0.7 Club!)
CONVERSATION