Thoughts On Hard Work, Living, and Having the Right Priorities
Last modified 4 months, 4 weeks ago.
I would never say that it was more important to develop myself physically than mentally, but in practice, that’s often what was happening.
It started when I was young, but as an adult, I only have myself to blame.
My physical training can be very difficult. I will often push myself to complete exhaustion (momentarily).
But I woke up this morning and realized, ‘Do I push myself to grow as a person the same way?’
Yes, during college, I pushed myself to learn. On average, I would study about 25 hours per week. Some weeks, I studied more. At times, it was harrowing. I wanted to seize the opportunity to learn as much as I could.
I pushed myself to develop academically and physically, but I hadn’t pushed myself nearly enough to grow as a person.
Ironically, after a while, it’s easy to do the hard work of getting caught up being a “workaholic.”
Even if what I was doing to develop personally was more than most (reading books, taking classes and seminars, etc), I still wasn’t doing enough of what I truly needed.
I don’t think my personal development requires me to push the way I do with exercise. It’s not about physical or mental exhaustion. But it is important that I make a concerted effort to do something every day to grow as a person. I don’t think I’ll ever be done with this work.
I tremble a little and shake my head, but laugh, too, at the mistakes I’ve made over the years. At critical junctures, I had mistaken malleable situations as immutable, and the subsequent results, as equally fixed.
I laugh, because I am human, and err like everyone else. I feel frustration, because I can’t get that time and energy back. I think I could have done much better.
Now I wonder if in a given day, did I push myself to learn more about what living is about? Did I take the time to write and express something that I am struggling with or challenge my assumptions and beliefs?
Did I prepare myself for the day, and the surprises–both good and bad, that it could present?
I cannot tell others how to live. I can only share my own experience.
And thus far, my goal is to be much more careful about where I use my energy and apply my focus.
Growing up, I always heard of the damage that hedonism could do to one’s long-term goals and self actualization. But ironically, I also realize it is easy to be working hard, thinking you’re doing what’s best, while losing sight of what’s really important.
Ain’t that a kick in the teeth?
It’s a very-early morning as I write this.
I have the entire day ahead of me to learn from my mistakes and grow for the better.
I know there will be more mistakes ahead–it’s inevitable.
I think I have better priorities now, though.
As always…
Wishing you the best of health & fitness.