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 I read The Practicing Mind a while ago, and although I don’t remember every chapter, the essence of the book stayed with me. These are the ideas I want to carry forward in my work, running, and life.

1. Mastery is built in the present moment

The book emphasizes a counterintuitive truth:
You only improve when your attention is on the action you're doing right now.
Not on the result.
Not on where you "should" be.
Only on the practice.

This is freeing, because it shifts the mindset from pressure to presence.

2. The “Process Mind”

Instead of thinking:

  • “I need to finish this module.”

  • “I need to run faster.”

  • “I should be better by now.”

Shift to:

  • “Let me do the next step well.”

A calm, process-driven mind creates better results with less stress.

3. Judgement slows you down

Self-criticism drains focus.
Neutral observation improves focus.

The book says:

“Notice, don’t judge.”
If you missed a run, made a mistake in code, or are behind schedule — observe, adjust, continue.

4. Small steps compound

One of the strongest messages:

Do a little work consistently, and mastery becomes inevitable.

This applies to:

  • Learning a technology

  • Running a marathon

  • Building a side project

  • Managing big work deadlines

  • Even personal habits like meditation or reading

5. Examples that stayed with me

Even though I forgot most chapters, a few ideas stuck:

Example: Learning piano

A beginner gets frustrated because they want to play a song perfectly.
The book says: focus only on today’s practice, not the final performance.

Example: Golf swing

Professionals don’t think about the final shot.
They think about one motion at a time.
Accuracy comes from presence, not pressure.

Example: Daily tasks

Whether coding a feature or cleaning a room —
don’t focus on “finishing it”.
Focus on the action you're doing right now, calmly.

6. What I want to remember for myself

  • Be patient.

  • Stay present.

  • Don’t rush the outcome.

  • Build consistency, not intensity.

  • Calm effort beats chaotic speed.

This is a reminder to my future self:
Mastery is simply the result of calmly practicing the right things, every day.

If you haven’t read The Practicing Mind, I highly recommend it.
It’s one of those books that improves how you think about work, learning, habits, and life itself.

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