This Celtic Poem of Approach hits like a bell in a quiet room. It’s simple, direct, and strangely disarming — the kind of wisdom that feels like it’s been living in the human bloodstream for centuries.
My son-in-law, Taylor Wilkinson, pointed me towards a podcasts featuring Liz Gilbert by Tim Ferris, and I’m thrilled he did. Elizabeth has adopted this poem as a kind of north star, and honestly, it’s no surprise.
She’s one of the most interesting voices of our time — accomplished, sharp, funny, spiritually curious, and unafraid to tell the truth the long way around. When she brought this poem into her conversation with Tim, she didn’t treat it like a slogan. She treated it like a vow.
No cherished outcome.
Let that sink in.
Because that’s not just a creative philosophy — it’s a way of moving through the world with courage.
Here’s the heart of Gilbert’s message — for all of us:
- Loosen your grip on outcomes. The tighter you hold a result, the more you distort the process. Let go. Show up. Let life meet you honestly.
- Relaxation is not laziness — it’s clarity. Gilbert talks about being “a relaxed person,” and she’s right: it’s a hard-won state. Relaxation sharpens your decisions. It restores your vision. It’s not passive — it’s powerful.
- Speak to yourself like someone worth protecting. Her “letters from love” practice isn’t sentimental. It’s practical. Most people treat themselves like the last person invited to their own life. Start offering yourself basic courtesy — and watch what shifts.
- Purpose is overvalued. Presence is underrated. Gilbert challenges the modern obsession with “finding your purpose.”
Her alternative is beautifully old-fashioned:
Be here. Pay attention. Do the next decent thing. That’s more than enough to shape a meaningful life. Take responsibility — but stop carrying what isn’t yours.
She threads the needle perfectly. Be accountable without becoming your own judge and jury. Humans are complicated. Treat yourself accordingly.
Why this matters — to anyone, anywhere
Because the world keeps telling us to optimize, strive, achieve, accumulate, hustle, and “live our best life.” Gilbert — a woman who has lived bravely and written honestly — offers a counterweight that feels refreshingly human.
- Show up with an undefended heart.
- Don’t cling.
- Don’t bargain.
- Don’t brace for disappointment.
- Just be present, open, and willing.
- It’s not weak.
- It’s not mystical fluff.
- It’s clarity.
- It’s maturity.
It’s the kind of strength that outlasts ambition. And maybe the boldest thing any of us can say today — in work, in relationships, in creativity — is exactly what that poem whispers:
I have no cherished outcome.
[Note: Today’s Woman Power Wednesday nugget produced during a short lunch break at Richmond’s Hollyhock Cafe – a very special place to sit and write. No wonder the podcast hit home!]
