In a recent blog post, David duChemin shared why or how he holds on to his craft. He describes a continuous cycle consisting of infinite challenges and infinite rewards. Once the reward appears, it opens the road to a new challenge.

To him, it is a continuous growth as one moves from wrestling to capture the photograph one dreamed of to finally finding it and restarting the process. It is, to him, based on an endless quality that makes it difficult to learn the craft and makes it even more interesting.

But he also shares how these cycles happen as waves with ups and downs, where the troughs can feel like lasting longer than the waves and highs. The troughs are the places that invite self-doubt and a desire to find a faster path to the next peak.

His acute awareness of the process helps him remember that whatever he experiences comes and goes. This awareness transforms the learning journey from one wave to another and brings it to life.

What is true for photography is true for golf. What may be different with golf is the rhythm at which the waves change. The high and the trough can be one shot apart.

The same is true for leadership, there the rhythm might be one comment, one mail, or one reaction apart.

In essence, it is one emotion apart.

This is where the “Instructions for Living a Life” from the poet Mary Oliver duChemin shares with us can be so helpful. They are a blueprint for being present in the moment which includes being present to one’s emotions:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.

Being astonished and allowing oneself to be surprised link with curiosity. It’s how awareness can emerge from paying attention. Telling about it becomes how whatever emerges can develop clarity.

Emotions rarely are clear and quite often; our preference is to avoid being aware of them. But it is our reaction to our emotions that can help us develop perseverance. If we allow ourselves to become aware of their function.