A question which can be reimagined in so many ways…
Why are certain people dedicating their time, effort, their whole being to a pursuit?
Why do we care about something apart from ourselves?
Why don’t we feel the fulfilment in just doing our jobs?
Why do we dream?
Why do some heroes inspire us?
Without a crazy belief that we can feel deeply in our bones, all we’re left with is a culture that pushes us down the hedonistic treadmill, that pushes us to compete with our loved ones, that pushes us down the rabbit hole of just keeping up social appearances, that pushes us into consuming endlessly.
It is the force that moves us to take action, the force that inspires us. It is the force which pulls us up from even the darkest of times, the lowest of phases that life throws at us. It is the force that gives us strength, it is the will to act.
"The will is everything. If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely. A legend, Mr. Wayne."
- Ra's al Ghul, Batman Begins
“What we have to do” => “What we need to do“
We do have to do a lot of things, keep up a lot of masks, pay bills, build a career, attend social events but I believe this can also become the biggest roadblock in doing the “Real Work”.
Real work or as Cal Newport puts it “Deep Work” is the act we perform out of the sheer demand of an invisible force from our being and we can only perform it willingly. This is not something which anyone can force upon us.
It’s when we let go of all our cries, all our doubts and with full courage we take on whatever comes our way. How much ever anyone tries to put it onto words, one can’t just communicate it, the words can’t do justice to the sheer enormity of it. It really has be felt, to be lived, embodied, acted.
This is the work that liberates and inspires.
But then,
What about the practicality of things? What if the dream is just an illusion?
Should one think of this “work” put on his shoulders by others?
Thinking this way is no good. How’s it helping anyone? Including you?
One of the option is complete rejection of the so called responsibilities. But, there’s a price to pay. There always is and we know that.
It could be disputes, harsh conversations, end of relationships, hurting our loved ones, losing respect and admiration. Either such a price is to be paid or another option is negotiation with the oneself and coherently with our surroundings too.
The Negotiation
Those responsibilities are yours, not just put upon you.
It’s a bit complicated here; one can see how taking up that burden can help things flourish overall, how it can make things better for surroundings and oneself too.
We’re not talking about succumbing to any and every request from our surrounding. That’s the same loop again. It’s a bit subtle. It’s acceptance of the responsibility but also at the same time the rejection of the authority on the way it happens.
Once we have a non negotiable, we can negotiate the ways it happens, we can negotiate how the burden is just a stepping stone.
- Tyler
None of these words are absolute in any sense. These are just the opinions/views/perspectives of the writer.
If you want to add something or just share your thoughts, please do in the comments below.
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