When acting, the focus should be on the act, and not the potential failure or success in the act. Do your hedging for failure prior to the act, but while doing the act, set that aside in your mind, and just do it. You will succeed or fail in the doing, but you’ll be more likely to succeed if you set such considerations aside, and just do.
I understand that there will be particular situations where you have to monitor for failure, but those are the exceptions that prove the rule.
I find that if I adopt this mindset I sometimes fail to fully invest myself in my work such that I am working towards my goals. For example, I may read over a text without using my full concentration to analyze it.
It reminds me of this quote:
Said Miyamoto Musashi: “The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy’s cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.”
“No. Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”
When acting, the focus should be on the act, and not the potential failure or success in the act. Do your hedging for failure prior to the act, but while doing the act, set that aside in your mind, and just do it. You will succeed or fail in the doing, but you’ll be more likely to succeed if you set such considerations aside, and just do.
I understand that there will be particular situations where you have to monitor for failure, but those are the exceptions that prove the rule.
I find that if I adopt this mindset I sometimes fail to fully invest myself in my work such that I am working towards my goals. For example, I may read over a text without using my full concentration to analyze it.
It reminds me of this quote:
http://lesswrong.com/lw/7i/rationality_is_systematized_winning/
“This mindset”—is that the mindset I described? If you have a more effective mindset, what is it?
Convincing myself I can succeed.