There's a peculiar tension in walking between worlds. As I sit here, surrounded by my well-worn copies of The Secret of the Golden Flower and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, I think about how to bridge the gap between the wisdom I've spent a lifetime gathering and the metrics-driven world that surrounds us. Like the gentle Pooh Bear in Benjamin Hoff's "The Tao of Pooh," I find myself often out of step with the rushing current of Western achievement, yet perfectly in tune with the deeper and more enduring, "self" of Eastern philosophy.
Mindstate vs. Mindset
Mindstate vs. mindset is like the relationship between water and the waves; understanding this is the key to a successful and authentic journey. These two concepts dance at the edge of our understanding, much like the interplay between being and doing that is so central to Sufi wisdom. A mindset, as we're taught in Western business contexts, is about goals, achievement, and forward momentum. It's the "growth mindset," the "entrepreneurial mindset," and the endless array of tools for scaling the mountains of success. But a mind state... that's different. It's what the Taoists call your natural way of being, your alignment with the Tao itself. It's what the Yoga Sutras describe when they speak of chitta vritti nirodha - the settling of the mind into silence. Your mindstate isn't about what you're trying to achieve; it's about who you fundamentally are.
I've spent years integrating these seemingly contradictory worlds. The Upanishads taught me about the unity of consciousness, while modern leadership books promoted differentiation and competitive advantage. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes the body as a temple, while corporate wellness programs treat it as a productivity machine. What I've learned - and what I share with some trepidation - is that there is profound value in maintaining your authentic mind state even when the world seems to demand a different mindset. I've faced the dissonance of being called "brilliant," "grounded," and "special" while simultaneously feeling the pressure to conform to more conventional measures of success. While this value for being unique translates well for being a "unicorn" in an industry, it doesn't translate easily in the job marketplace. Goodwill and other ephemeral leadership traits are often trendy and hard to measure numerically. So, this path may not always be easy. There is a different stressor on the nerve that builds resolve. Ultimately, the payoff is worth the pressure because authenticity leads to an established peace of mind.
Like the writers I admire - James Baldwin, who never shied away from truth-telling, and Zora Neale Hurston, who celebrated the authenticity of her cultural voice - I've come to understand that our greatest strength lies in integration rather than assimilation. The wisdom traditions I've studied don't ask us to choose between being and doing; they show us how to do from a place of authentic being. Your mind state is like the water in a river—it has its own natural flow and innate intelligence. Your mindset is like the boat we build to navigate that river. Too often, we focus on building bigger, faster boats (mindsets) without understanding or honoring the river itself (mindstate).
In my own life and work, I've learned that:
A clear mind state naturally gives rise to appropriate mindsets, just as still water reflects the sky perfectly.
Forcing mindsets without nurturing our mind state leads to exhaustion and disconnection.
The wisdom traditions weren't offering an escape from reality. They were portraying a deeper way of engaging with it.
The Biblical book of Proverbs tells us that "wisdom is more precious than rubies," and in my experience, this remains profoundly true. While I sometimes struggle with the material measures of success in Western society, I've found something more valuable: a way of being that brings inner peace, clarity, and purpose. This isn't about rejecting the practical world - after all, even the great yogis taught us how to live in society while maintaining spiritual awareness. It's about understanding that our mind state is the foundation from which all meaningful action springs.
If you find yourself caught between worlds - between being and doing, between wisdom and achievement - know that you're not alone. The integration of mind state and mindset isn't about choosing one over the other but about allowing your authentic state of being to inform and guide your ways of doing. The Sufis speak of polishing the mirror of the heart until it reflects divine reality. Perhaps that's what we're really doing when we nurture our mind state - we're polishing the mirror to reflect back the most appropriate mindset for each moment.
In the end, what I've learned from the Tao, from yoga philosophy, from Biblical wisdom, and from life itself is this: your mindstate is your home, your truth, your natural way of being. Your mindsets are the tools you use to navigate the world from that home. Don't let anyone convince you to abandon your home for the sake of better tools. As we navigate this modern world with its endless demands for various mindsets, remember that your fundamental mind state - that deep, authentic way of being that you've cultivated - is not a liability but your greatest asset. Even when the world seems to value other things, stay true to that inner wisdom. Like water, it will find its way, nourishing everything it touches along the way.
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