People Do Not Work Hard for Fun
Work is work and a chore for many, many people.
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Only if you believe you have your dream job will you put in a hundred percent and be joyous while you do it. Only if you are like me. I won the jackpot in this life. Not only did I win the jackpot in my career, but I also won it in many other aspects of life that people consider essential for happiness: my car, my appearance, my home, my pet, my family, and my partner.
Why do people consider they will be happy when they have something else they do not yet have? Is it because what they have now brings them great grief and sadness? When I experience discomfort, disappointment, and unhappiness, I use anger and passion to change that situation and take what’s mine. Perhaps I am a type A personality, or maybe I am elitist, privileged, and self-centered.
If I have everything I need, I can finally focus on others, experience compassion, and be kind. I am finally asking people how they are doing because I can genuinely care. Being arrogant, selfish, or full of fear doesn’t make us bad people, though it does prompt us to do or say bad things. Each of us is going through the journey of life experiencing consistent self-development and change, regardless of whether or not we seek it out specifically. We can only change once we are ready.
I notice that many people do not work harder than I do. And I realize it’s because they do not love their job as much as I do. My job fits like a hand in a glove — perfect for my personality, ambition, dreams, and interests. I don’t push myself to the brink, but I enjoy working immensely when I can. I want to work all the time. When work is fun, there is everything else to focus on. You can finally live your life as you dreamed it as a child.
If you resent working for a living to pay the bills and maintain the living standards you are used to, then you will continue to put your effort in the wrong places. You will be fulfilled only when you see an intrinsic benefit, enjoyment, and excitement in your work, whatever it is. Some of us allocate so much time and energy toward tasks of diminishing returns. That way, our time management and energy management are off. We must focus on high-value tasks and automate the rest. That way, work is fun, you gain precious hours, and life is more meaningful.
Aimee Sparrow is an author, applied philosopher, and mathematician who has lived with a mood disorder for over a decade and advocates for happiness and inner peace. She is the author of Lunacy. Follow her website for more details.
