Living with the Intention of Non-Attachment to Outcomes
This or something Better is my prayer - Michael B Beckwith
We live in a world that constantly tells us to set goals, make plans, and strive for specific outcomes. While ambition and effort are valuable, an excessive attachment to results can often lead to stress, disappointment, and self-doubt. Instead of fixating on a single outcome, what if we focused on the journey itself? What if we embraced the idea of doing our best and allowing the rest to unfold as it will? Today as I sat to set my intention for the day, I thought about living today without attachment to any specific outcome, to only focus on doing the work to the best of my ability and leaving the rest.
There have been so many situations where I was SURE about how something would have unfolded, then there were times when I placed every part of my being in receiving a specific result and things happening a certain way. When it did not happen, I was devastated - imagine that I was even devastated when the situation even turned out better!
Non-attachment does not mean a lack of effort, care, or ambition. Rather, it is about putting in the work, showing up fully, and then letting go of the need to control how things unfold. When we become overly attached to a particular outcome, we limit ourselves to one possibility—often missing out on even better opportunities that the Universe may have in store for us.
By choosing non-attachment, we cultivate:
Peace – Anxiety diminishes when we trust the process instead of worrying about the end result.
Openness – Unexpected paths and possibilities arise when we release rigid expectations.
Resilience – We avoid feelings of rejection or inadequacy because we recognize that our worth is not determined by any single outcome. - This has been the toughest lesson for me. Learning to release the feeling of unworthiness when the result shows up differently to how I envisioned it, how I sold it, how I want it.
Living with non-attachment does not mean we become passive or stop striving for excellence. On the contrary, it means we give our best effort while understanding that the outcome is not entirely in our hands. When we shift our mindset from "What if this doesn’t work out?" to "I am doing my best, and I trust what comes next," we release ourselves from unnecessary mental burdens.
Here are some practices to help cultivate non-attachment:
Set Intentions, Not Expectations – Instead of obsessing over a specific result, focus on the intention behind your actions. Ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" rather than "What will I get from this?"
Trust the Timing – Just because something doesn’t happen the way we envisioned doesn’t mean it won’t happen at all—or that something better isn’t on the way.
Embrace the Present Moment – The present is where life is happening. Enjoy the process rather than constantly fast-forwarding to the outcome.
Detach from External Validation – Your worth is not determined by whether you succeed or fail in a particular endeavor. Who you are is far greater than any single achievement or setback.
Let Go with Gratitude – Whether things unfold as expected or not, express gratitude for the lessons, experiences, and growth that come from each effort.
So, do the work. Give your best. And then, release it. Trust that what is meant for you will always find you, often in ways beyond what you could have ever imagined.
Peace and Blessings