Acheiving Elite Mastery: The Bhagavad Gita and Olympic Weightlifting

Process-Dependence

As we grow more mature in our lives, we become more process-dependent and less outcome-dependent. The Bhagavad Gita captures this sentiment aptly: "You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work." While thinking about the future is necessary for giving the present direction, one's thoughts should not be preoccupied with the future, but rather, focused on steps to be taken in the present to get to the future.

State-Dependence

Successful people focus on the processes in the present over which they have control, rather than future outcomes they can't control. But, there is a higher tier, which I call state-dependence. It happens when the processes you have set in place to achieve a targeted outcome become so ingrained and automated into your being, they become your state and you execute these processes instinctively and authentically.

Under-77kg living legend, Lu Xiaojun performing the Snatch immaculately- a master of his craft.

Weightlifting

For those of you that weightlift or appreciate the sport, I think of the three states as three different athletes performing the Snatch:
1. The outcome-dependent lifter is only focused on getting the weight overhead and does it in the simplest way he knows how (muscling the weight up) and drastically underperforms to the potential of his strength.
2. The process-dependent lifter repeats positional and actionable cues in his head while lifting, being careful to adhere to them ("butt down, aggressive second pull"). Often, too many thoughts and mental sequences can make the lift less fluid. Still, he lifts more than the outcome-dependent lifter.
3. The state-dependent lifter knows how powerful technique feels and lifts the weight instinctually. He can do this by building on a base of time spent in process-dependence. This is the state of mastery.

However, if you are in state-dependence, mindfulness and time spent revisiting process-dependence can help you refine your processes even more, making you even more effective.

An Afterthought on Being Present

At first glance, process-dependence appears to be the most present mode of execution. When you are in process-dependence, you are mindful and aware of how your body moves. State-dependence is the equivalent of putting mindfulness on autopilot. Right?

On the contrary, I believe that state-dependence is actually a deeper, purer form of being present than process-dependence. In process-dependence, the executor of a task is present and focused to and on the task at hand. In state-dependence, the executor of a task is present and focused to and on himself and the state in which he can optimally execute the task. After all, the only thing we can truly control in this world, is ourselves.

Disclaimer

I recognize that I've been using masculine pronouns exclusively in this article. This has been done for convenience and to reflect the male-ness of the writer. I deeply desire that the principles espoused, and the sport used as a metaphor can both be applied and pursued by all genders, or at the very least, inspire you to something greater in life.