In The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life, author Thomas M. Sterner shows readers how to live in the present moment and enjoy the process of learning a new skill or achieving a goal. In other words, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
And Sterner certainly knows of what he speaks. He’s an accomplished musician, avid golfer and private pilot. For over 25 years, he’s also worked as a concert piano technician, doing “anything from preparing a $100,000 concert grand piano for a major world symphony performance to painstakingly restoring a vintage grand piano to better-than-factory-new condition.”
Here are a few helpful suggestions I’ve gleaned from his book on mastering new skills.
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I learned about living in the moment sometime ago. I have used it for other things like being able to remember things more clearly and to get more out of life, but never this. I have enjoyed this article and will use what I have learned here.
Hi Sterner, Your discussion have already impressed me. Specifically “DOC” and “Focus on the process….”
are good ideology. It’s really helpful. Thanks and keep up.
Excellent article. I’m an introvert so I prefer to work alone. When I have to work with others, I’ve found that the rules are that much more important. I find that if I focus on the relationship, the goal takes care of itself. If I (we) focus on the goal the relationship suffers; and paradoxically the goal suffers too.
Sadly, I’ve also found that this is a very dangerous thing to say in a corporate environment.
As Garry said this is dangerous to promote out load in a corporate environment – unless you are the speaker on a corporate retreat! There it’s all about goals and objectives….
Like the article, but it is so much harder in reality to be working in the moment and to ignore the little critics you carry around in your head.
I golf , and am frankly, “bad,” and finally decided that I will play because I like to – really radical thinking on the golf course! I have found that when I tried to learn a new music instrument as an adult, even tho I tried to be like this, it was insanely hard to practice and not worry about judgments. I have a pretty good idea where the garbage comes from, but have not been able to overcome it cognitively. Sterner has picked 2 areas – music and golfing – where your ultimate performance is public, where ability to maintain focus is a must. Also, a tangent, have come across a couple of people who combined music and golf in their careers, too – commonalities – focus; hitting the next note or stroke anew no matter what happened the moment just past; rhythm …?
Wow, I found this article really insightful. I think I understand now why I’m so reluctant to go shopping and get the things I need. I think, “Oh I need to do this and this and this…” and I’m exhausted just thinking about it. But if I focus on the process maybe I can start getting things done one by one.
Step one: make a list
Step two: get out of the house!