As some people know, discipline has become one of my favorite words over the past few years - I am constantly searching for books on the subject, looking for examples of discipline in action. There is a ton going on in my life on a personal level lately, and there’s a good chance that my sometimes-ridiculous focus on discipline could pay off.
But as I was sitting on my couch cranking out another project while contemplating the past few years, I realized something very cool about my disposition towards work. For all my faults and misgivings and stupidity, it appears as though the past few years have instilled a virtue in my simple little soul.
I work for its own sake.
There’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that I’m hungering for. The pursuit of discipline, focus, hard work…these things have somehow managed to become their own reward.
One could argue that such a mindset is sick and twisted - that work without worrying about gain (financial or otherwise) is either impossible or an obvious sign of insanity. But I don’t think so - not anymore.
There was a time in college when I spent hours at the bookstore devouring Kiyosaki books, dreaming up get rich quick schemes, and contemplating my financial goals - how much I wanted to have and by when.
But after watching my first business crash and burn into the ground, after subjecting my ego to six months serving seafood in Seattle, and after three years working my tail off to create cool products, intuitive interfaces and beautiful designs, something changed. Those old goals no longer seem to be important.
I still have goals that could very likely lead to financial reward at some point. But as in all things, the test of one’s virtue is in the motives behind one’s actions.
In most cases, I fail. I write about charity but still give way too little. I talk about humility but continue to say and do the most ridiculously arrogant things. In most areas of my life the movement away from hypocrisy continues to move at a sluggish pace.
But I feel (for now) that I’ve managed to separate myself from the pursuit of wealth as some kind of end goal. I’ve managed to be happy with what God chooses to give me. And I continue to work like mad because that’s what I’m created to do. My work is a sacrifice to Him who created me, and that’s become reason enough to do my best.
Usually when I step back and examine my moral fortitude, when I gaze into my soul, I’m not happy with what’s there. I usually don’t make the kind of progress I want, keep making the same stupid mistakes, and lose battles of will at the slightest provocation.
For once, it’s cool to see that something has changed for the better.
1 response
Sean,
Working for the process of it is a wonderful place to be, because at that point you work simply for the joy of creating things.
Goals are ncecssary, however, for me, when I let myself become immersed in the moment, I can give my full self to that activity and enjoy the process of creating or doing or being.
This quote relates to the issue:
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” — John Wooden
I think in your move to working for its own sake, you are honoring your character, without worrying as much about your reputation. By doing so, you’re amplifying the deeper inner life that can take joy in experiencing the process, which very often results in a good reputation.
Thanks for sharing this nugget of a post — it was very inspiring to me this week.