Hello my friend,
Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire.
The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down.
You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion.
Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself.
This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer.
These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow.
It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.
- Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
We spend much of our time in a place that doesn’t yet exist.
With the high speed and hustle culture all around us it feels like we must always be future thinking, planning and creating.
We sacrifice the only thing we have - the present moment - for one that has never or most likely will never happen.
The irony is that if and when we do actually arrive to that future moment, we won’t be present for it. We’ll just be thinking of yet another future moment.
Resulting in never being in the moment to experience the actual thing we wanted or had planned for.
This begs the question, is the journey itself the destination?
The mountain analogy paints this perfectly.
We plan a trip for an entire month, we climb the mountain for a whole day.
We arrive at the top and enjoy the view for a minute.
A handful of seconds to enjoy ‘the result’.
Yet suddenly then we notice the slightly higher mountain in the distance, and our mind immediately wants to go there.
Our attention jumps to the next result or achievement we desire.
Life is no different.
We centre ourselves on a result to benefit from a certain type of outcome, whilst forgetting about the pathway that took us there.
The goals and dreams we have will only ever give us a momentary reward.
We might cheers a glass, take a selfie or hug our partner or friends at the end.
But every part of the experience - the lessons, the growth, the fun and all the beauty already came before that.
The journey that takes us to a destination is what brings all the rewards.
Things I’m learning
Becoming.
“The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader. The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner. The goal is not to learn an instrument, the goal is to become a musician. This year, focus on the identity you want to build.” - James Clear
No-one cares that much.
“You’ll stop worrying what people think about you when you realise how seldom they do.” - David Foster Wallace
Presenting ourselves with evidence.
“The word character comes from the Greek charassein, meaning “to engrave or stamp upon.” When we throw ourselves into worthwhile projects and pursuits, we engrave or stamp upon ourselves the type of person we are becoming.” - Brad Stulberg
Question
Do you have a thinking problem or an action problem?
Hack
Walk more. No amount of stress, worry or anxiety will feel the same after a long walk.
That’s all for this week!
Thank you for reading.
With love, Nick x