On Motivation and Fighting Pessimism
Hi All,
It's been a little while - I've got some ideas for general interest posts, but nothing's come together quite right just yet. Or rather I haven't felt like sitting down to write it. Which brings me to today's topic: Motivation. Particularly, how hard it is to maintain when the world and our lives in general seem Hell bent on exhausting us on a daily basis. Typically my work days are fairly straightforward - head to the office, do my job and come home. Where I'll take care of a few chores before vegging out on the couch for a few hours. Then it's off to bed, and the rest of the week is essentially rinse and repeat.
Disclosure notice: I don't have kids or pets, so my pre/post work obligations are pretty light in comparison to some of my colleagues.
I think this is probably what a lot of our work
weeks look like. Work, eat, chores, sleep, repeat. Sometimes we get to indulge in a hobby or two, maybe a date-night. However, I find my brain's pretty much done by the time I finish work. I've burned through my mental energy, and spend the evening recuperating. It's a rare day when I've got a little left over for my own pursuits.
And I like my job. It's interesting and challenging, although as most millennials will say - it's not where I want to end up as far as my career is concerned. Again, not because it's a bad place to be, but rather because I have more to offer my organization than I'm currently permitted to do, and I think a higher level position would help me deliver on that potential (second disclosure notice: I've recently spent a little more than half a year doing just that, and it was phenomenal. Really lovely work. However, I've been recalled to my previous position and so now I'm back to where I was...).
So, in short, my life is nothing like the movies. And in that, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself. I do my best not to, but there is a definite part of me that wishes I got to travel the world, wine and dine to my hearts content and meet humanity's most interesting people. That same part of me is unhappy that I'm grinding out a life for myself, stuck in career limbo while I pay never ending bills and try to save for a nice sunset.
However, the rest of me says to hell with that. I have decidedly first world problems - the kind that ultimately boil down to wanting to be more financially secure, with plenty of disposable income and time to waste. The fact is, most of the world would likely be willing to kill for an average middle class lifestyle. And I'm aware of that. I'm aware that I have access to healthcare and clean water, a safety net, a job with a sufficient income. And I'm lucky enough to have met someone who fits me - who gets me - who values and supports me. And I get to do the same for her.
Ultimately, that's where my motivation seems to come from - knowing that even if I feel inadequate or insecure, that I'm actually okay. I've got prospects, even if they likely won't ever make me rich. I've got a wonderful wife and a good home. I may never own a big house and a fancy car, but so what? Nothing is perfect - nothing ever is. Even if I had those things, would that make me happy - that's the real question.
The older I get, the more I seem to realize that nothing has to be perfect, or even near perfect. It just has to be livable. And if it's easy and relaxing and happy - great. But if it's not, if it's a struggle as it's likely to be, the best thing to do is keep going. Fight on, smile and remember to live.
As much as working to make a living makes sense, a lot of what we do is ridiculous. Chasing after money so we can buy slightly better versions of things isn't living, it's shopping. And when I'm old, I'd rather be able to look back at what I've done, rather than what I've bought.
Anyway, sermon over...
It's been a little while - I've got some ideas for general interest posts, but nothing's come together quite right just yet. Or rather I haven't felt like sitting down to write it. Which brings me to today's topic: Motivation. Particularly, how hard it is to maintain when the world and our lives in general seem Hell bent on exhausting us on a daily basis. Typically my work days are fairly straightforward - head to the office, do my job and come home. Where I'll take care of a few chores before vegging out on the couch for a few hours. Then it's off to bed, and the rest of the week is essentially rinse and repeat.
Disclosure notice: I don't have kids or pets, so my pre/post work obligations are pretty light in comparison to some of my colleagues.
I think this is probably what a lot of our work
weeks look like. Work, eat, chores, sleep, repeat. Sometimes we get to indulge in a hobby or two, maybe a date-night. However, I find my brain's pretty much done by the time I finish work. I've burned through my mental energy, and spend the evening recuperating. It's a rare day when I've got a little left over for my own pursuits.
And I like my job. It's interesting and challenging, although as most millennials will say - it's not where I want to end up as far as my career is concerned. Again, not because it's a bad place to be, but rather because I have more to offer my organization than I'm currently permitted to do, and I think a higher level position would help me deliver on that potential (second disclosure notice: I've recently spent a little more than half a year doing just that, and it was phenomenal. Really lovely work. However, I've been recalled to my previous position and so now I'm back to where I was...).
So, in short, my life is nothing like the movies. And in that, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself. I do my best not to, but there is a definite part of me that wishes I got to travel the world, wine and dine to my hearts content and meet humanity's most interesting people. That same part of me is unhappy that I'm grinding out a life for myself, stuck in career limbo while I pay never ending bills and try to save for a nice sunset.
However, the rest of me says to hell with that. I have decidedly first world problems - the kind that ultimately boil down to wanting to be more financially secure, with plenty of disposable income and time to waste. The fact is, most of the world would likely be willing to kill for an average middle class lifestyle. And I'm aware of that. I'm aware that I have access to healthcare and clean water, a safety net, a job with a sufficient income. And I'm lucky enough to have met someone who fits me - who gets me - who values and supports me. And I get to do the same for her.
Ultimately, that's where my motivation seems to come from - knowing that even if I feel inadequate or insecure, that I'm actually okay. I've got prospects, even if they likely won't ever make me rich. I've got a wonderful wife and a good home. I may never own a big house and a fancy car, but so what? Nothing is perfect - nothing ever is. Even if I had those things, would that make me happy - that's the real question.
The older I get, the more I seem to realize that nothing has to be perfect, or even near perfect. It just has to be livable. And if it's easy and relaxing and happy - great. But if it's not, if it's a struggle as it's likely to be, the best thing to do is keep going. Fight on, smile and remember to live.
As much as working to make a living makes sense, a lot of what we do is ridiculous. Chasing after money so we can buy slightly better versions of things isn't living, it's shopping. And when I'm old, I'd rather be able to look back at what I've done, rather than what I've bought.
Anyway, sermon over...
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