Uncovering Your Dharma: The Power of Tiny Contracts

Introduction to Dharma

My introduction to the concept of dharma happened on my grandfather’s front porch in New Delhi when I was just seven years old. At that time, the wisdom he shared about finding happiness through work instead of escaping from it flew over my head. However, decades later, in a period of unhappiness with my job, his teachings resurfaced and inspired me to make some significant changes. Little did I know that these changes would lead me to discover the practical powers of dharma in my life.

Inspiration Behind Elon Musk’s Cybertruck Design

The path to uncovering my dharma

In my quest for joy and purpose, I embarked on a journey to uncover, pursue, and live my dharma. This journey eventually brought me to the realization that my grandfather had underestimated the practicality of dharma. It brought me a profound boost in confidence, creativity, and a sense of purpose and joy that permeated every aspect of my life and work. None of this would have been possible without the implementation of a tool I now refer to as “tiny contracts.” These binding agreements with myself allowed me to wholeheartedly commit to a specific course of action for a fixed period of time. During this time, my focus and dedication remained unwavering. I became fully immersed in the action, leaving no room for doubt or half-heartedness.

The importance of absorption in happiness and success

A recent conversation between Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik shed light on the true essence of happiness and success. Both agreed that true success lies in being absorbed in something outside of oneself. Financial success and notoriety are not the keys to happiness. Instead, genuine happiness stems from being fully immersed in what one is doing. Unfortunately, in today’s society, most of us lack this complete absorption. As staggering as it may sound, a whopping 96% of people are actively seeking their next endeavor, and less than 25% are truly engaged in their current jobs. We are far from living our dharma and experiencing true fulfillment.

My personal experience of not being absorbed

I can relate to the feeling of being one foot in, one foot out. For the first fifteen years of my career, I jumped from one role to another, constantly second-guessing my choices. My emotional energy was divided between questioning my decisions and actually committing to them. This constant state of doubt left me unhappy and unsuccessful because I lacked true absorption in any of my roles.

Finding true absorption through writing

Eventually, I reached a breaking point and craved complete immersion in something I love – writing. So, every morning, before my full-time job, I dedicated time to writing. What began as simple journal entries evolved into blog posts and eventually published articles. I felt a deep connection to storytelling and desired to fulfill my lifelong dream of writing a book. I secured a publishing deal after facing multiple rejections, which felt like a culmination of all my efforts. However, when faced with the daunting task of writing the book, I became overwhelmed and paralyzed. Doubt crept in, and I couldn’t determine if I was even qualified to be an author.

Embracing tiny contracts for total immersion

After six months of struggling with the book, I decided to give up. Over dinner, I confided in my wife, Leena, about my decision to abandon the project and return the advance money to my publisher. To my surprise, she encouraged me to practice what I had been preaching and suggested setting up a “tiny contract” for my book. This concept, which originated from a conversation with an automotive executive, John, involved committing to a specific timeframe and fully immersing oneself during that period. After completing the contract, one can reflect and decide if they want to renew for another term.

Implementing tiny contracts for personal commitment

Inspired by John’s approach, I established a three-step process for setting up a tiny contract:

1. Step one: Set a timeframe for your contract. This period should be one in which you can fully dedicate yourself to a specific course of action.
2. Step two: Be fully absorbed. By committing to a tiny contract, you free yourself from the fear of making the wrong decision. You can go all out and give your full heart and focus to the task at hand.
3. Step three: Regularly check in with yourself. At the end of each contract, reflect on the milestone you have completed and ask yourself if you are still absorbed in the work. If the answer is yes, consider renewing the contract for another term.

The benefits of tiny contracts for organizations

Contrary to traditional employer-employee relationships, tiny contracts offer benefits to both individuals and organizations. With the average tenure in the workforce decreasing, organizations often struggle with employee retention. However, implementing tiny contracts can rejuvenate employees and bring a fresh perspective to their work. When individuals like John choose to renew their contracts, they bring renewed enthusiasm and energy to each project, inspiring others in the workplace.

My personal experience with a tiny contract

On the verge of giving up my book, my wife reminded me of the power of a tiny contract. She asked me to tune out doubt and distractions and fully commit to writing for one more year. If after that contract, I felt absorbed and fulfilled, I could continue. Her simple suggestion revitalized my determination.

Reference

Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.