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Back in my Santa Fe days I did a fire walking workshop. After an evening of psyching ourselves up, a few dozen of us strolled across about four meters of white hot fiery coals in our bare feet. One of the young kids cart wheeled over. Some people picked up the coals and crushed them in their hands. I opted for the basic “I’m just gonna get across without toasting my toes” style of walk. And I did. And it was a euphoric thrill.

When we wrapped up I heard that a few people had received some minor burns, which was curious because each of them had done a number of fire walks before without the slightest blister, just like the rest of us first-timers had done that night. “What’s up?” I asked them. And in a matter of words, they each said that they’d gotten too cocky, slightly over-sure of themselves. And it occurred to me that it really paid to be a beginner. Beginners try harder. The beginner’s mind makes room for both fear and certainty. The beginner knows that there is always more to know and looks in every corner to find it.

- Danielle

IDEA: Get new with the old. Pick three things this week that are regular, normal, done-it-a hundred-times events for you. Running a meeting. Calling your mother. Kissing. Walking your dog. Checking your email. Start fresh. Think to yourself, “This is the first time I’ve ever done this.” And technically, it is. Every moment is new.

Then, pay attention to what you see and feel. Like a silly reason or a better reason for doing something. Or a sensation of resentment, or pleasure, or arrogance, or anticipation, in the habitualness of your doing. Or a quality in someone that you never noticed before.

When you first begin anything, you tend to pay very close attention. And with your eyes wide open there’s so much more to see and feel.