Whenever I draw something, there might be a part of the drawing that is repetitive and “not fun”. The challenge with these parts is to stay present and avoid just-get-it-done mode.
With drawing, parts with low variability and high repetition—like say the wing of a bird—can evoke restlessness and carelessness. But rushing screws up the drawing. This is always the case. Rushing is the enemy of good work. So is carelessness. I know that if I want the entire drawing to be of a certain standard then I need to be present for the boring parts, the difficult parts, and the enjoyable parts.
This idea applies to life. Our state of consciousness has a direct influence on whatever we are doing in the moment. Additionally, if we are working on a long-term project, the state of consciousness that we bring to each day will influence the ultimate outcome.
You cannot expect the aesthetics of a drawing to be good if you attend to certain areas carelessly. Similarly, you cannot expect your long-term project, program, or policy to succeed if your state of consciousness is rushed, careless, or unconsidered.
There is no way around this: Presence is the difference. There is no way to get to “better” by “breaking eggs”.
Things around us suffer if we do not attend to it with patience, care, and presence. State of consciousness matters. We should not think of life as a bunch of automated steps towards a monthly wage, or an idealised outcome, or a top-of-the-mountain destination. Our state of consciousness in this moment matters.