Thought for the day - 2

   

    "In life, we sometimes misplace priorities and significance. Too often, we do something for the sake of rewards. If the rewards are not forthcoming, we are disappointed, and lose interest and zeal in the work. That is simply the wrong approach. In general, there are delays between actions and rewards. Even if you finish a good work, rewards are not necessarily forthcoming: reception and recognition occur in a stochastic way, depending on many parameters out of one's control. If you can make the process of making the effort your primary source of happiness, then you have succeeded in the most important challenge of your life.

    So make music, even when nobody is listening. Draw a picture, when nobody is watching. Write a short story that no one will read. The inner joys and satisfaction will be more than enough to make you carry on with your life. If you have succeeded in doing so, then you have made yourself a master of being in the here and now."

    Ken Mogi, The Little Book of Ikigai

Comments

[Dark Puss]

I agree with much of this philosophy but not all. Doing things solely for ones own pleasure is ultimately a rather selfish activity. Also without some proper, thoughtful and supportive critical appreciation from outside of one's own world, improvement (surely to be desired by all) is likely to be slow or non-existent.

[Cornflower]

I agree that there is potentially much to be gained from others' reception of one's 'work', but I also like Mogi's stress on "the process of making the effort" as a means of personal gratification.

[Dark Puss]

I think it is more that "potentially", however I certainly do agree that making an effort brings its own rewards.