HANDS: 

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hands title: 

§3. Rule 2: Game of habits

hands date: 

12 May 2022

hands text: 
Repeated thoughts determine actions,
repeated actions determine habits,
habits determine character,
and character determines destiny.
Law of Karma
01
Workmanship is a matter of habits. It grows out of good routines, sound technique and a steady heart. This may sound theoretical but there are practical points that immediately follow.
02
Take a long view. Your approach should extend beyond the immediate task. See every project not as an isolated effort but as part of a larger process that shapes you over time.

Every action sends signals to your body and mind, forming habits that can either strengthen or weaken your skill. When you take shortcuts or use poor technique just because “it works for now” you allow bad habits to take root and stay with you.

03
Follow proper posture, tool use and technique even when the project at hand doesn’t require them. These are the foundations of consistent, high-quality work and protect you from fatigue and error in the long run.

Consider how a good pianist approaches it. They play with the same technique — the same routine — both the extraordinarily difficult works of Franz Liszt and the relatively simple first movement of the Moonlight Sonata. The form always remains the same.

04
Stay calm, balanced and good-natured. Frustration leads to mistakes and burnout. A composed mind and steady temperament let you meet challenges with patience and clarity.

Think in terms of routine and rhythm. Routine creates structure and stability, allowing attention to deepen over time. Rhythm in work — alternating effort with rest, precision with reflection — helps preserve concentration, consistency and endurance.

05
And finally: at first you think you are merely learning how to work properly. Only later do you realise that the work has been shaping you in return — your habits, your temperament, even the way you see the world around you.
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