Work Hard vs Work Joyfully

“If you work hard, your life will be tedious” Sadhguru

I have found that our society is either promoting the idea of working hard to succeed or doing nothing to take care of ourselves - as if the former in each case, is a sure path to the latter.

Working hard translates into success (or at a minimum increases our chances), and doing nothing equates to self care.

We often tell our children to work hard so they can make something of themselves, have a good life and succeed. We almost never tell them to work joyfully. We almost never tell them to work as an expression of their love because they were made to create.

Why would working hard be the path to success? Would not working joyfully be more aligned with high performance, excellence and impact?

Why would doing nothing be the best way of taking care of ourselves?

Would not being in the flow creation be a better expression of self care?

Would it not fill us up and revitalize our inner energy more than slouching on the couch, numbing ourselves with entertainment?

Would creation in flow not have as good a chance of filling us up, as a peaceful meditation or yoga session?

It’s not that watching a good movie, mediation or yoga are not a useful part of self care.

It’s that the act of creation is so often NOT seen as a source of self care.

Instead it’s perceived as a necessary evil to get somewhere, at some point in the future, when we are made to believe we will reap the benefits of our work and finally be joyful.

It’s working hard for joy in the future, rather than working joyfully for joy now.

When we approach our work from a place of joy, it can not help but lead to self care, love and energy.

It’s when we approach our work from a place of working hard that we are more likely to seek separate techniques for self care.

It’s the working hard that is tedious.

It’s the working hard that depletes us.

Working joyfully can not help but be a source of love and energy.