#435 – Who do you think controls the outcome?

You can think you're in charge of the outcomes of your actions. And sure, to some degree, you do influence your results.

But you're not in charge and you can't control what you get.

Believing the outcome is within your power leads to frustration and suffering. And worst of all, you give up when you fail to "see results."

• Why keep applying to jobs? No one's calling back!
• Why meditate? I'm not getting wealthier!
• Why write this newsletter? It's not making me famous or rich!

Seeing only failure, you feel victimized and powerless––why is this happening to me?

The truth is, you're focusing on the wrong things. Claudia Fres, a drama teacher I worked with in Madrid, would cut in mid-scene to tell students, "you're focusing on the result and you're getting nowhere!"

Because, unless you get the exact results you had in mind, you're failing.

But when you focus on the process, the very act of taking each step is success.

If your goal is to write a piece, writing it is success. But if your goal is to have a piece published on The New Yorker, well, good luck with that!

When you focus on the process and each step is your goal, you grow, develop skills, and widen your opportunities.

How much longer will you keep handing your power to results you can’t control?

Love,

Carolina