When we are growing up, we are given two contradictory messages. One is “do the best you can.” The other, “be happy with what you have.” If you are supposed to do the best you can, why would you stop striving for something better than what you have? On the other hand, if you are happy with what you have, why would you strive for anything better?
As we grow older, these messages manifest themselves in the following way.
We work hard to get the highest education, most money, most fame and most of whatever we decide our life’s preferences are. The culture of maximizing sets in, one in which nothing is every good enough. We find every situation wanting and every achievement a mere stepping stone to something better.
The message of being happy with what you have…it is almost forgotten by most, and for the others, it becomes the source of an aimless life without any drive or motivation. For most of us, who do not start with much, this type of complacency leads to hard life.
I think that one needs to have both to be truly happy. One needs to do the best one can AND be happy with what one has. This is not simple to achieve, because, as I said they contradict each other. It is like riding two horses at once. Perhaps the way out is to ride one horse at a time and figure out how and when to change horses.
So, we need to work hard to achieve, but at some point, we need to switch horse and enjoy what we have without being envious of people who have more or regretting what we have not been able to achieve. We should certainly try to live in the best place you can, but then get off that “achievement” horse and get on the “contentment” one. Learn to enjoy where you live, even if that place turns out to be Cleveland.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ashok,
ReplyDeleteA very good question. My opinion is that the conflict between the needs of the society (work hard, obey rules, take care of family) and needs of the self (freedom to do what you want, not work, avoid responsibilities) is ever present in our lives. And finding maturity means finding balance between the two needs.
Also the two conflicting values illustrate the difference between the Western and Eastern philosophies, with the Western philosophies demanding more service to the society than the Eastern philosophy.
I for one find that I 'do my best' work when I am in a relaxed and satisfied state. Otherwise I put on an act of doing a lot of work without much results to show for it.
Tushar
P.S. Pardon my 'Movie Masala' handle. My only blog is an old game development site I had created earlier.
Interesting dilema!
ReplyDelete"Doing the best you can" is about just DOING. Whereas "Be happy with what you have" is about HAVING. Both can be simultaneously fullfilled. As per Bhagwat Gita our focus should be TO DO (Karma), just for doing it the best you can, without wanting to achieve the desired reward/result (HAVING). So it is all about the Intention vs. Results.
The problem is that we all confuse doing the best with getting the best results. We measure the action by the results/rewards - rather by the intention behind doing. Our society puts all the focus on achevements. Hence we get focused on accumulating results, rather than doing the best.
Sharad
Agree with Sharad, and you as well Ashok.
ReplyDeleteAs Sharad points out, Gita is very clear:
Work hard, and do NOT let up on Action.
Keep the Goal in mind.
But, do not worry about the fruit of action. Enjoy what you have. And, enjoy the process (the journey).
I think this is analogous to riding a chariot with 2 horses, mostly going straight, but sometimes pulling to the left or right.
And how about picking up passengers and getting them to ride with us?
Amit