We usually understand satisfaction as a feeling that occurs from something that went well. However, satisfaction is the result of a different process: attention. This attention must be focused on the development of the things we do for satisfaction and not on the effect.
How to focus on the process?
Follow these tips and learn to focus more on the process:
Mark events that signal your progress.
Instead of saying 'I didn't achieve this', think: 'this was the process to get to this point'. Over time we tend to underestimate the development of situations and focus on achievements and failures, which leads to frustration.
Smooth the learning curve
Rank your assignments according to the skills required to solve them and their level of difficulty. Then, solve the assignments that give you the skills required to move on to the next ones first.
Give yourself feedback
Try to analyze how you felt in a certain situation and what you would like to happen next. Ask yourself: What did I do well, what could I do better?
At the end of it all, don't reflect on whether you succeeded or not. Instead, analyze what led you to achieve it (or not).
Pay attention to secondary gains
A secondary gain is a positive and unexpected consequence of the process. You can notice these by asking the following question: Is there an unexpected, positive discovery or situation that came out of an unpleasant, frustrating experience or that is not considered an accomplishment?
Contribution created with input from Ciro Villafraz.
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