Recently I’ve started to feel like I’m living my life for others. Organising what I want to do around things I have decided to/want to/have to do for others.
More often than not I find myself putting what I want to do aside in order to do something for someone else, and make them happy. Noble? No, not really…Seeing others happy usually makes me happy. So it’s selfish in a way.
But I’m growing tired of making decisions.
I listened to a speech late last year at work. The speaker presented very well, and with a passion I had never seen from an Australian Executive before. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that he was south American. Anyway, he mentioned that we only go out of our way to achieve a goal when we truly believe that goal is good for us.
Of course he related what he was saying to work, and the speech was a spin made in order to motivate us during a time where my company is planning the removal of several perks, and a lack of monetary incentive for any of it’s employees.
But relate it to real life and it’s a strong statement. Everyone, even those that help the unfortunate, do the things they do because deep down they believe that the end goal will be good for them. Help the unfortunate because they believe it’s a good thing to do, end of story? Dig deeper. Does one gain a sense of self satisfaction because they believe they’re helping the world?
So we decide to do things when we believe those things are good for us. But, for example, what happens when you’ve been working hard towards a goal in your working life, and every time that goal seems close the posts move? What if your job is extremely convenient and enables some good things in your life, but due to a lack of movement prevents other things from being realised? When do you jump?
You’ve got to weigh up the pro’s and con’s, then make a decision.
I wish I could sit on the fence for this one. It looks comfy up there.