Striving Mindfully

While mindful striving does not necessarily guarantee better results, our endeavor takes on a spiritual dimension as we awaken to the clear meaning and clear purpose of our work.

Although we don’t normally associate mindfulness with the accumulation of wealth, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Although in today’s fast-paced world people are conditioned to strive for material success often to the detriment of ethical and spiritual development, money itself is not evil.

The Bible states, “For the love of money is the root of all evil..” ( KJV, 1 Timothy 6:10). It is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil.

Money is simply a tool, no more, no less. Just like a hammer, it can be used to build a beautiful house or to kill someone.

When we strive mindfully, we strive with the mind already content in itself. 

That’s it. 

Contentment does not depend on the fruits of our labor. It depends only on the mind being at peace with itself- with or without the fruits.

If the mind is already content in itself, then no additional conditions, such as wealth, status, and promotion, are necessary for its well being.

The question then arises, why should we strive at all?

If true happiness and contentment have nothing to do with accomplishing anything, why should we even bother? 

We strive to coexist with the conditions and circumstances to which we are bound.  Most of us choose to live in a world of attachments and material comfort, so we must be able to meet the challenges of secular life. If we are to function effectively in society, we must accept the roles and responsibilities that are expected of us.  If there is a certain need or lacking in our life, it must be addressed right away so that it does not become a source of conflict and frustration.

While economic prosperity is not the antithesis of spiritual development, success is more meaningfully savored in the process of our striving, not in the results themselves.

Good results will only lead us to strive for better results. And so on and so forth.  Attachment to the outcome denies us the opportunity to live in the present and fosters uncertainty, anxiety, stress, and self-doubt. Mindful striving enables us to shift our focus away from preoccupation with the outcome toward the process of our work.

While mindful striving does not necessarily guarantee better results, our endeavor takes on a spiritual dimension as we awaken to the clear meaning and clear purpose of our work. Work is no longer a means to an end, but the very expression of our true essence.