Eugen Herrigel, the author of a 1948 classic, Zen in the Art of Archery, offers a thought of dis-identification from the outcome of one’s performance:

“The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull’s-eye that confronts him.”

Indeed:

The Arrow is the Extension of your Arm.

The Arm is the Extension of your Body.

The Body is the Extension of your Mind.

Your Mind is the Extension of [the arrow of] your Consciousness.

Generally, however, recognize:

When you release the bowstring of your performance and when the arrow of your behavior hits or misses the target (objective/goal), you are still standing where you were standing, you are still you, regardless of the outcome.

You were there before any given outcome, and you will be there after a given outcome.  But this outcome came out of you.  It would not have happened without you.

Remember:

You are not the outcome of the outcome; it’s the outcome that is the outcome of you. You are not your performance, you are the one who performs.

Conclude:

I am not the outcome of what I do!  I am not the outcome of my performance!  There is no “I” in the outcome!

[adapted from Lotus Effect]

Related: Aiming Your Mind

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    Last reviewed: 9 Jul 2011