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The Antidote to Doubt
When your mind strays, doubts arise...
Good morning my valued readers!
Currently in Boulder, CO. Just finished some yoga outside under the clear skies and bright sun.
We’re here for a few more days before we head up into the mountains to hit the slopes.
As I was about to dive into my work for the day, I was struck with a thought about a project I’m currently working on.
One thought led to the next, and before I knew it I had wasted 30 minutes worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet (and may never happen).
So I wrote this quick letter to share with you how I combat worry and doubt in my life in hopes it may help you too.
Let’s dive in…
The most difficult part of achieving your goals, in business or life, is the ability to remain in the moment.
Without this ability, you’ll be unable to summon the patience & focus required to build something over the long run - whether that’s a career, business, social life or an intimate relationship.
You'll also miss out on the most rewarding aspect of business (and life) - the joy, excitement, & self-confidence that comes with making progress towards a worthy goal.
When your mind strays from the task at hand & begins to think “down the road” about your end goal, you leave room for doubts.
And when doubts creep in, self-confidence diminishes & your goals starts to seem harder to attain - leaving most people to give up and seek comfort.
The antidote is to sharpen, focus & calm your mind.
Athletes and everyday people workout to improve the way their bodies perform & feel, it's common sense.
Similarly, we all have minds. And the quality of our life is directly tied to the quality of our minds.
But how many of us deliberately "workout" and strengthen our mind?
A fearful & anxious mind leads to a life that bears the fruits of those negative seeds.
Likewise, a calm, joyful, & focused mind allows us to fully embrace + direct our lives.
“It is your mind, rather than circumstances themselves, that determines the quality of your life. How we pay attention to the present moment largely determines the character of our experience and, therefore, the quality of our lives. Mystics and contemplatives have made this claim for ages—but a growing body of scientific research now bears it out.”
The easiest way to build the quality of mind, and thus life, you want is with vipassana meditation, also known as mindfulness.
Start with 10 minutes daily. Sit silently with your thoughts, let all the chatter in your skull bubble to the surface. Let thoughts arise & pass, breathing deeply the entire time.
At first, your mind is going to beg you to stop and find stimulation.
But over time, you’ll find gaps of calmness to enter and feel truly content to be alive and present.
And here's the secret…
As you advance in your formal practice, you’ll be able to access the same state of calm minded & joyous focus throughout your daily hustle & bustle.
And once you reach this point is when life truly gets fun & all your goals truly become attainable.
So be vigilant, like a craftsman whittling away at wood, direct your stray thoughts back to the moment, "workout" your mind, & make your life your masterpiece!
That’s it for now.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed it, all I ask is you take 20 seconds to forward this to someone you think would also enjoy it.
Cheers!
-Hunter
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