Life is like a roller coaster. It is so fast and has sudden jerks, ups and downs and even takes you upside down, but you still love to take a ride.
Life may never be smooth or hassle free, yet, we all want to live our lives happily. “Why was I born?” or “What will be my future?” or “ living is a mess -- what should I do about it?” or... “What’s my purpose of living?” or variations of these are frequently asked questions by the majority of modern society and do not have satisfactory answers.
But for some, after a lot of hard work they attain their heart’s desires; good job, love, wealth, recognition or anything else and found the satisfaction was not what they had expected? That emptiness still exists within? Or may be they are obsessed with the fear of losing what they have gained? Despite the affluence of the Western lifestyle, many Sri Lankans aren’t happy, and the numbers of unhappy and depressed people are ever increasing.
Seemingly, we don’t know how to live our lives the right way - how to draw contentment, happiness, maybe even a little joy, from our lives on a daily basis. Fundamental reason why one should work hard to achieve financial independence is to enjoy life. The idea of writing this is not to make you complacent but to encourage you to live happily and to achieve the purpose of living in every aspect of life.
Is the loss worth the gain?
Let’s be realistic and honest here - hands up all of you who bounce out of bed every single morning, raring to get to work and enjoying yourself every minute of the day? If you didn’t put your hand up even metaphorically, you’re not alone. But many leaders try to create this state of mind in employees. Yes, we find employees who are self motivated and committed to work but that is not only to make the employer rich but also to achieve career goals being the foundation for happy living. Every human being’s wish, in this world, is happiness in life and there are many ways to be happy. But when we work too hard or worry too much, we often forget that the simple things in life are those that make us happy…. a call from a loved one, a smile from a stranger, the sight of a beautiful art, listening to a nice song, a surprise gift, a tasty meal, a pat on the back, etc. It doesn’t require that much of an effort to get these simple gifts. These gifts are available in plenty and for free, but they provide immeasurable happiness. Add so much meaning to life. There is nothing wrong in striving at work and in fact that’s the right thing to do, but people must watch out for signs that they have begun to work themselves to death. We all have our aspirations in life, so we work hard but you know that success in the workplace doesn’t always bring happiness. It’s another art like any other that has to be learned & mastered. When this dimension is ignored, you end up sacrificing your family, your friends, your life to achieve your professional goals, but in the process you loose yourself. Then you wonder if the loss is worth the gain. For sustainability of anything, it’s important to seek balance and understand the night & day, back & forth and good & bad in all activities we do.
Making the right choice
If you are not enjoying your job, it is important to figure out why. If it is due to something that is relatively simple to fix, there is no need to go through the hassle of up heaving your whole life. However, there are many cases where the job you’re in is just not suited for you. If you are truly bored by your job, gather up your resources and change. Remember though, that you may be taking the same problems with you, so it might be worth working them out now and getting them fixed before you make the move. Continue to do a job you hate or working for the wrong employer is not a wise thing to do. It’s important to find time for yourself, for your family, for your friends. Keep in mind that your first priority is your loved ones, and not your work.
I hope each of us will have a smile on our faces when we reminisce the old times, I hope that everyone finds living exciting and rewarding for all. It is my wish that we would all find the time to do the things that really matter most.
One of the keys to success and happiness is being true to the most important person in your life - YOU. That said, work hard to enjoy life as without commercial gain one can’t support LIFE.