Go. Get ready. Aim.

Outcomes.
Products.
Measurements.

Spiritual practice is not about outcomes; it is about process. As fixated as we can become on fixing problems, restoring justice, even something so grand as changing the world, spiritual practice is not results-oriented, outcome-based, or any of the other cliché options that populate business, education, and government these days.

In fact, when we become obsessed with outcomes we have moved into another realm altogether.

That is not to say there will not be specific outcomes or results of our spiritual practice, just that we are not aiming for them. We may even accomplish great things as a result of engaging in a spiritual practice but if that is the goal then our process will be subverted.

Spiritual practice may be the one thing we can enter into these days that is decidedly not goal-oriented. Aiming at a goal, in fact, will make us miss the mark when it comes to spiritual practice. Spiritual practice takes one step at a time, mindful of balance and thoughtful about execution rather than direction or horizon.

The more feverish cultural and economic forces become about measuring results and producing outcomes, the more insensitive to that urgency we need to be when engaged in our spiritual practice. This will drive some people crazy. For many people if the task is not the driver then there is no point in participating. But believe me, if the production and achievement is the tail wagging the dog our spiritual community or our own spirituality will grow a dark rotten spot at the center.

Instead go, get ready, aim. Or more specifically: do, reflect, learn, do.