The foundational skill of non-striving in mindfulness may seem counterintuitive at first. However, at its core, non-striving is a mental practice that encourages strategically letting go of striving for outcomes and instead focusing on the present moment when appropriate. Below we'll explore the science, how it can enable peak performance, and 9 practical ways professionals can incorporate non-striving in healthcare.
The Science of Non-Striving: Enable Peak Performance
A recent study suggests that the strategic use of non-striving can enable peak performance, states of flow, and intense focus. Participants included 38 males and 22 females with an average age of 24 from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore:
To study non-striving behavior, researchers used the Infinite Water Scooping Task along with a word length comparison task. In the water task, participants repeatedly scooped water over a string in the same container without any visible change in water level, focusing only on the action itself. After this, they performed a task where they had to quickly decide which of two words was shorter, testing their reaction times.
The results showed that participants in the experimental group (who performed the non-striving task) took significantly shorter time to respond in a subsequent word length comparison task compared to the control group. This indicated a lower degree of effort or striving, suggesting that the task successfully induced a non-striving state.
The study suggests that the non-striving experience induced by the Infinite Water Scooping Task could be beneficial for intense roles like being an athlete, helping them achieve and navigate peak psychological states. This application is relevant because non-striving and flow both involve a relaxed yet focused state of mind, which can enhance performance in high-pressure activities like healthcare professions.
Furthermore, the study implies that incorporating non-striving tasks into mental skills training could help professionals prepare for and sustain flow states during intense periods. By experiencing the non-striving state, professionals may better navigate the nuances of peak performance, maintaining focus and relaxation without the pressure of striving, thus optimizing their overall performance.
Overall, non-striving can optimize performance by helping individuals maintain a balanced state of focus and relaxation during high-pressure activities by letting go of striving for the outcome and fully focusing on the present moment.
"The relaxed and non-striving experience accompanied by the Infinite Water Scooping Task or other similar tasks may help athletes navigate through the nuances accompanying such peak psychological states when they use it as part of their mental skills repertoires." - Kee et al., 2019
9 Use Cases to Apply Non-Striving in the Flow of Healthcare
These examples illustrate potential applications of how non-striving can complement evidence-based medical practices in healthcare.
- Patient Acceptance: Healthcare professionals can practice non-striving by accepting patients' conditions as they are without imposing unrealistic expectations for rapid recovery.
- Presence with Discomfort: Providers can focus on being fully present with patients' pain or discomfort, rather than only seeking immediate alleviation, if possible.
- Patience in Healing: Embracing non-striving involves letting go of the desire for instant solutions and recognizing that healing is often a gradual process that calls for patience.
- Supportive Pace: Professionals can support patients' wellness journeys at a pace they can manage.
- Flexible Treatment Plans: Non-striving entails being open to adjusting treatment plans based on patients' evolving needs.
- Quality Time in Consultations: Prioritizing being fully present during consultations and scheduling longer consultations for more complex cases if need be.
- Focus on Quality of Life: Recognizing that not every illness can be cured, professionals can focus on enhancing patients' overall quality of life.
- Acceptance of Setbacks: Practitioners can cultivate an attitude of acceptance towards unexpected challenges or setbacks in patients' health journeys.
- Celebrating Unique Progress: Celebrating each individual's unique achievements instead of only comparing progress to benchmarks.
Discussion
Overall, non-striving in healthcare can be a successful approach that can benefit both patients and providers. However, it needs to be implemented with a clear understanding of its limitations and a commitment to open communication. While non-striving enables more compassion, healthcare systems also need to be efficient. Finding this balance might require adjustments to specific applications of non-striving.