The Power of Beginner’s Mind
“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.”
There’s something terrifying, yet magical about taking on something new. You’re totally clueless and it pushes you way out of your comfort zone. At the same time, it opens your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities.
Time passes and you get better at that new thing. Pretty soon you’re killing it.
Congratulations… You’ve become an expert and you can practically do that new and difficult thing in your sleep.
Expertise has a huge upside. You gain confidence, comfort and competence. Where you were once hesitant, you now accomplish the task with ease and efficiency.
The Expert’s Disadvantage
Expertise comes with its own hidden dangers. As tasks become routine the excitement and attention to detail that comes with newness fades into memory. That’s where the Expert’s Disadvantage comes in.
The Shift to Autopilot: Going through the motions, no longer paying attention to the intricacies of the task. Have you ever driven home along a familiar route, only to arrive at your destination with no idea how you got there? If so, you know what I’m talking about. Quality suffers on autopilot and things begin to fall through the cracks.
Living in the Comfort Zone: What used to be exciting starts feeling dull. If you’re bored and struggling for motivation, you might be too comfortable.
Stagnation: Expertise doesn’t mean there’s only one way to do things. Resistance to new ideas can stifle growth and keep you from exploring new ways of working and thinking. Comfort feels good, but too much of a good thing can lead to stagnation and get in the way of reaching your full potential.
What can you, the expert, learn from the beginner that will encourage growth and keep you motivated?
Say Hello to Beginner’s Mind
Beginner’s Mind is a concept from Zen Buddhism called Shoshin. It’s a way of treating everything you do as if it were a new experience.
Beginner’s Mind means:
Letting go of preconceived notions and judgement
Seeing things with new eyes, as if you’re experiencing them for the first time
Bringing enthusiasm and curiosity to what you do
Openness to experimentation and trying new things
Beginner’s Mind cuts the pressure to perform and gives you a new perspective, sparking ideas to influence what you’re already doing, while inspiring future creativity.
5 Ways You Can Practice Beginner’s Mind
Drop distractions. Focus on the details and immerse yourself in the task at hand if you’re doing it for the first time. Concentrate on the present moment and try to keep your mind from wandering to past or future events as you work.
Try a new perspective. You know what you know, but what if there’s a different way to see it? Take a step back to test new and different perspectives. Ask others to challenge you with new ideas. Let go of the concept of “right” and “wrong” ways to approach what you’re doing.
Go back to the beginning. Remember why you started in the first place. What surprised and delighted you when you were just a beginner? How can you bring more of that wonder and excitement to what you do?
Experience the power of play. Have you ever seen a toddler in action? They excitedly race around, completely immersed in the moment. Curiosity reigns supreme as they explore the world around them without fear of judgement because the world hasn’t taught them to stick to the rules yet. Experiment, and dare I say, play with what you’re doing. Don’t overthink it and don’t stress what others are thinking.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t settle for the status quo. Ask yourself the hard questions that will challenge you to push outside the comfort zone. Where can you expand into something new that makes you a beginner all over again?
It’s an amazing feeling when you master something new. Once you’ve become an expert, the key is to keep learning and growing. Beginner’s Mind gives you the opportunity to constantly seek your growing edge so you can stay as excited and motivated about your area of expertise, as you were on day one.
