Act, Don't Fret
Working without a thought for results. Seems tough, doesn't it? And yet it seems to me more and more everyday that this is perhaps the only way to be in action. Sure, we want justice done to the effort we put in. But is it really in our control? I don't quiet think so. As a matter of fact, the best things that have come to me in life have come unexpected, unasked for and undesired. They have simply come. And when I have found myself desperately wanting to get something, it has eluded me. Even though there was no let up in my endeavour towards reaching that goal.
But this thinking questions the validity of keeping targets. No one can deny the significance of being clear about what one wants. But is it possible that we can have targets and yet not obsess about them? Is it possible that we don't torture ourselves worrying about how far we still are from our desired goals? What makes failure most frustrating is all the time we know we have spent stressing over how to avoid it. The truth is that we cannot control everything. What we can control though is our behaviour. So, instead of spending all that time worrying about what may or may not happen, let's just put our energies on doing, acting and working the way we can reach our targets. But make sure that we do not allow our emotions or our feelings to be affected in the process.
When I start wondering about what good is my effort anyway, I find that I considerably reduce my effectiveness. I start operating at a mediocre level. But if operating at an optimum level alone becomes the target, things can change for the better. As Gandhi said, "Almost everything you do will seem insignificant but it is important that you do it."
What about incentives then? It is a proven fact that people work better when offered incentives? If we don't see any reward coming for the work we put in, what are the chances we will continue to operate excellently? The world doesn't judge us by the quality of work we do, they judge us by the results we produce. So, our bank balance, the toys we own, the house we live in become the yardstick to assess how far we have come in life.
The only thing I can say to that is that if we continue to operate at a world-class level, those things are more likely to come than if we do not. The idea is not to be more concerned about them than you are about how you are working. Review regularly where you are heading. Change your approach if you have to. But do not allow yourself to fret. That never does us any good. That causes more of fretting to be attracted. And I can say that basis some experience of the same.
Think of how much freedom that means from all the tension we find ourselves subjected to. Just focus on your behaviour. Be clear about your goals but don't grow emotionally attached to them. Happiness should be a constant state of mind and not dependant on the achievement of some trophies. I remember Hrithik Roshan saying on a popular talk show, "If we are happy only basis the fulfilment of our goals, our happiness will be short-lived. Because after reaching one summit, we look towards the next."
And that makes a lot of sense. Targets will keep changing. Excellence in action and a happy state of mind should be constant. Choose goals that you would love to achieve. Take up projects that excite you. That should ensure that your enthusiasm lasts till you see the same through. And have patience. Even when despite your best efforts, rewards elude you.
Perhaps the world is designed in a slightly more complex way than we think. Those who worry too much over results do not see them come as quickly as those who work the best way they can for the same target without obsessing too much over the same.
Strange, but fascinating!
Like Einstein said it, "Just go work as well as you can humanly do it. The rest will take care of itself."
But this thinking questions the validity of keeping targets. No one can deny the significance of being clear about what one wants. But is it possible that we can have targets and yet not obsess about them? Is it possible that we don't torture ourselves worrying about how far we still are from our desired goals? What makes failure most frustrating is all the time we know we have spent stressing over how to avoid it. The truth is that we cannot control everything. What we can control though is our behaviour. So, instead of spending all that time worrying about what may or may not happen, let's just put our energies on doing, acting and working the way we can reach our targets. But make sure that we do not allow our emotions or our feelings to be affected in the process.
When I start wondering about what good is my effort anyway, I find that I considerably reduce my effectiveness. I start operating at a mediocre level. But if operating at an optimum level alone becomes the target, things can change for the better. As Gandhi said, "Almost everything you do will seem insignificant but it is important that you do it."
What about incentives then? It is a proven fact that people work better when offered incentives? If we don't see any reward coming for the work we put in, what are the chances we will continue to operate excellently? The world doesn't judge us by the quality of work we do, they judge us by the results we produce. So, our bank balance, the toys we own, the house we live in become the yardstick to assess how far we have come in life.
The only thing I can say to that is that if we continue to operate at a world-class level, those things are more likely to come than if we do not. The idea is not to be more concerned about them than you are about how you are working. Review regularly where you are heading. Change your approach if you have to. But do not allow yourself to fret. That never does us any good. That causes more of fretting to be attracted. And I can say that basis some experience of the same.
Think of how much freedom that means from all the tension we find ourselves subjected to. Just focus on your behaviour. Be clear about your goals but don't grow emotionally attached to them. Happiness should be a constant state of mind and not dependant on the achievement of some trophies. I remember Hrithik Roshan saying on a popular talk show, "If we are happy only basis the fulfilment of our goals, our happiness will be short-lived. Because after reaching one summit, we look towards the next."
Perhaps the world is designed in a slightly more complex way than we think. Those who worry too much over results do not see them come as quickly as those who work the best way they can for the same target without obsessing too much over the same.
Strange, but fascinating!
Like Einstein said it, "Just go work as well as you can humanly do it. The rest will take care of itself."
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