The secret to realizing boundless potential is to distance from the desired result of actions.

I have relentlessly argued through my blogs that we all have unlimited potential and that life is about stretching this horizon repeatedly. I endorse “Never Arrive,” which captures the essence of the winning mindset and the idea that personal development and progress are lifelong processes. In contrast, spiritual gurus talk about detachment from material objectives and setting your goals to transcendence. Most argue that material attachments are obstacles to liberation and connecting with the higher being.

Like most of my readers, I want the best of both extremes. But how do we strive to reach our maximum potential and simultaneously seek liberation from material possessions? I pondered over this dilemma for some time and finally found the answer in the teachings from Bhagwad Gita. This Hindu philosophy sacred scripture narrates the life lessons Lord Krishna imparted to Arjuna, the warrior ready to battle his friends and family.

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In my previous blogs, I talked about various people who talk about continuously striving for peak performance.  Former Navy SEAL and endurance athlete David Goggins embodies the concepts of relentless pursuit to test physical limitations and mental strength. Goggins highlights that our potential exceeds our wildest dreams and urges us to embrace change and take charge of our life. Tim Grover, author of "Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness," argues that winning is brutal and unforgiving. He urges people to engage totally in themselves, embrace their "dark side," and make sacrifices to pursue personal development and accomplishment.

Winning can be a rewarding experience filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment. However, the nature of true winners is such that these feelings are fleeting. You've hardly finished celebrating your success when you're back at square one, confronting the next obstacle. Consider conquering the mental barriers that made you skip a challenging workout. You overcame the blockage, reached your fitness objectives, and celebrated. You're back at the starting point the following day, ready to set new goals and push yourself further.

However, when we strive for a goal in our quest for limitless potential, we frequently get obsessed with the intended outcome. We place too much importance on winning, and it is difficult to accept defeat when we lose. Many of us would not even begin the voyage scared of losing, while others never attempt again following initial failure. The brain becomes clouded, overthinking about the outcomes, which prevents acting with complete clarity.

Bhagwad Gita teaches the balance between peak performance and spiritual harmony. Gita teaches "Nishkama Karma," which translates to "selfless action" or "action without attachment to outcomes." Krishna tells Arjuna, “You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for reward, nor should you long for inaction. Perform work in this world, Arjuna, as a man established within himself – without selfish attachments, and alike in success and defeat.”

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Renunciation of the fruits of action does not imply indifference to the outcomes or a lack of ambition. It only requires us to watch the outcome from a respectable distance and not become emotionally involved or obsessed with it. It is about accepting that we do not have perfect control over the consequences.

When we focus on the actions and remove emotions attached to the destined result, we begin to work with clarity of mind. The “why” of performing the action leads to clearly identifying the “how” of the process without getting emotionally entangled in “what” will be the achievement.

We might set ambitious goals, establish strict habits, and work persistently to accomplish them. However, we must also establish separation from the external benefits and plaudits that come with achievement. We will find joy and contentment from the process of trying for objectives, regardless of the result, by moving the emphasis from the outcomes to the current process.

This mindset of keeping a distance from the results allows us to maintain equanimity, resilience, unwavering determination, and freedom from the fear of failure or external judgment.

I’m practicing keeping a distance from results and taking emotions out in my work and relationships. I’m already seeing improved clarity of mind and improvement in my output. This is also helping in maintaining joyful and stress-free relationships.

The moment we remove the burden of expectation of the results from our pursuits, an inner peace starts taking shape…and the journey to transcendence and liberation begins.