Beginner’s mind

The joy of curiosity

When teaching a beginner fly-fishing class, I’m often envious of those just starting out. They have a curiosity inherent to learning something new. That curiosity is sometimes referred to as “beginner's mind.”¹ Those of us who have been fly-fishing for a long time can benefit from recalling those moments of beginner's mind.

When I fish a familiar place, I find myself recalling previous trips and setting expectations for a similar experience. When it’s not as I expect, the shadow of dissatisfaction crosses my mind. I know it’s irrational to be disappointed, hell I’m out fishing what’s there to be unhappy about. But it creeps in.

When that happens, I remind myself that no two fishing experiences are the same. The water is flowing differently; the weather is different; the fish are apt to be in unexpected places. More importantly, my mind is in a different place, likely the reason I’m out fishing in the first place.

I find that if I rekindle that natural sense of curiosity that is the crux of beginner’s mind, then I can wash away those feelings of dissatisfaction and enjoy the moment for what it is.

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus

1. Being curious, as if doing something for the first time. Not concerned about the outcomes, enjoying exploring and learning for it’s own sake.