Chop, carry and never repeat

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

This is a Zen proverb that I have carried around in my memory since I was a teen. I first read it in a book that sat on my mother's shelf that had a whole range of small quotes in it and the idea was to focus on a challenge of the moment, open the book randomly and read the solution. Of course, the solution was not on that page, but the idea is that it would trigger thought and perhaps in doing so, discover a solution within the process.

Process is important, but unfortunately, people over-weigh the results without considering what it really was that reached it. I find this a lot in the cryptosphere when it comes to price as while many people focus on the price of a coin, they don't spend that much time looking at the project behind it.

In time, I believe that the only crypto projects that are going to survive out of the alts are those that have proven that they are capable of building something. This is part of the reason I see so much potential in Steem as while it is far from perfect and is plagued with a thousand and one problems, it is continuously in development, continually doing what it does day in day out.

Chopping wood, carrying water.

This isn't about doing the same thing over and over again, although without thought some might see it that way, it is about a continual improvement process that is always ongoing. You can only chop the same piece of wood once, you can only carry a bucket of water once from the river because new trees grow and the current flows by, so while the bucket dips into the same river, the water it draws is different, even if it appears identical.

When it comes to probabilities, having a good process increases the chance of success over those who have no process at all and while success isn't guaranteed even if "everything is done right" because luck and randomization plays a part, process is what makes it consistent.

Ever hit a hole in one?

That doesn't make you an expert golfer, it makes you relatively lucky on the day. An expert golfer has developed a process that means that even if luck doesn't swing their way, they can consistently put the ball near the hole, time and time again. Good process is being able to consistently do what is required.

If one is looking at this from an investment angle, while some people might be looking for the "big score", it is those who are consistently putting their income aside, investing wisely, distributing risk level and diversifying holdings that will on average out-perform those without process. Anyone can win the lottery and potentially earn more than a person who has diligently invested, but how many win the lottery?

On Steem, I think there is a process of continual growth as even though there are plenty of errors along the way, we generally learn something from them and adjust somewhat for the next instance of change. Most people get so stuck in the changes that harm them that they forget to see if that same change could also work in their favor.

I was talking to my friend last night and he mentioned that when he was young he was introduced to compound interest and instead of working out ways it could work to his advantage, he investigated all the ways it was harmful.

This happens often on Steem where people focus on the "loss" they will incur under changes without considering the gains that could be made under the same changes. People attach themselves to what they have learned and the habits they have created and then, anything that threatens that process must be negative. An inability to adapt to change is an indicator of sorts. It is up to you what you think it might indicate.

What I like here over the last few days is that a lot of the people who have been against Hardfork21 have come to the understanding that, it is likely going to happen on the the 27th of August so, they have to prepare for the outcome - they have to change their processes and in this case, it is a switch of attitude.

Rather than fighting the changes, they are accepting that it is what it is and then have to figure out how they themselves are going to use it to their advantage. As I see it, no matter what Hardfork 21, 22 or 79 will be - my process is the same:

chop wood, carry water.

While my behaviors might change, while how I use my resources can shift - the process of observation and adaptation continues on so that I am able to put my best foot forward with every step - no matter how the path shifts beneath my foot. There will be plenty of missteps and likely a few twisted ankles, but the process of adaptation continues on regardless.

Personal evolution is something that very few seem to spend much time investing into even though they believe that they are improving continuously. We each have strategies to deal with our world with many of us operating on autopilot only. What they might be doing though is carrying the same chopped wood and bucket of water without recognizing them as resources to use to improve experience.

No chopping, drawing water - just carrying the baggage of the past.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]