Beginner’s mind or Shoshin has proven to be a great tool for my professional, creative, and personal life. I stumbled upon this concept when I was learning to meditate.
So what’s this beginner’s mind about?
Shoshin (初心) is a word from Zen Buddhism which means “beginner’s mind”. It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would. (wikipedia)
Beginner’s mind help us find insights in everything we do. It can turn boring chores into fun activities. It enables us to see everything and everyone with fresh eyes, giving us the opportunity to learn something new all the time.
Approaching life with a beginner’s mind removes your expectations of how things should be, letting you appreciate things as they are.
When you are a beginner you don’t care about being the best or what others might think of you — it’s expected that you will suck. You are focused on doing your best without any expectations about the outcome. Beginner’s mind allows you to focus on small wins and enjoy the process.
When you start living as a beginner you will become a pro in everything you do.
