The Problem With Being Raised In A Results Based World

[Razard86]

We suffer our expectations. Our expectations create fears. When we are afraid of what may or may not happen it paralyzes us.  In my personal life I have always been at my most powerful and productive when I focused on the journey and not the destination. You know you are at your best when you enter what is called the "zone" or "flow state" when everything is perfectly aligned. Its a temporary state we inhabit when everything becomes synchronized perfectly in that moment. 

You can only enter that state when you are present, it is a state of meditation. If you have ever performed in sports or any competitive activity or creative activity you have no doubt felt this. Whenever you pay the most attention in the present moment to what is going on, this state will open its doors to you.

So we need to open our hearts, ignore the beliefs, and judgments and opinion of ourselves that stop us from going in the direction of our desires. Allow the message of our divinity to shine forth through our trust in the process that things will be as they shall be. 

A story: I once struggled with Statistics in College. I wanted to drop the class at mid-term because I was failing it. I couldn't drop it because my financial aid didn't come through and was forced to go past the midterms with a F and now being unable to drop the class without receiving a WF which is basically equivalent to an F on your Grade Point Average. (If you do not drop a class before midterms, then you will receive a penalty if you attempt to drop it past that point). 

I talked to my Professor to see if she could help me and she told me she couldn't believe I was failing because I was often participating in class. She told me hey maybe just study longer. I was angry at her advice because I was already studying 4 hours a day for 6 days a week. I decided to study for 5 hours a day and then eventually moved it to 7 days a week. I told myself "The only thing I can control is my effort and my preparation." My results will be what they shall be. 

So I set out an intention to pass, focused on the process (journey) and left the results up to themselves. I was able to find videos on Youtube that Teachers uploaded of lectures on topics that I couldn't understand from my Professor or the textbook. After listening to enough lectures and applied practice I would figure it out. 

Result: I got an A on every test I had from that point on. I went from a 60 to a 89 in 2 and a half months and got an A on the final. My Professor told me in all of her 20 years of teaching I was the only student to have a turnaround like that. These two moments in my life teach the same message. Stop having expectations, focus on the process, the present, and tomorrow will fend for itself. 

Second Story: I use to run  in College I was on both Cross Country and Track and Field team. There was a meet where my Coach put me in the 9000 Steeple Chase, the 5000 meter run and then topped it off with a 800 meter. After finishing both races I was dead tired. I told my teammate man I have no clue how I am going to finish this race. He was like all you can do is the best you can man. I was like "you are right."

So when I decided to run as hard as I could, and whatever happens happens. I actually told myself that repeatedly. When I lined up to run I took off faster than I normally did. I usually would pace myself the first 400 meters, slowly pick up pace on the next 200 meters and then sprint the last 200 meters. But TODAY was different, since I knew I had used my energy I decided to just run hard the whole race and if I ran a horrible time so be it.

I ended up setting a PR (personal record) and my time was the fastest time in my Conference for like a month. So again...my two strongest moments had this same theme. Focus on the here and now, the present, as truthfully that is all there is.

Matthew 6:34 is “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Jesus.

Edited July 5, 2022 by Razard86