ərbringing or inducing sleep, as drugs or influences.
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It occurred to me some time ago that the only way to find a fulfilling life is to introspectively identify the intellectual stimulants that inspire, engage and spur oneself into action. I have seen more than many fall into the Gordian knot sometimes encouraged by society, that personal goals for stimulation can be set with indicators of success like grades or money allotting one consistent report cards. This has always mystified me, as almost everyone I’ve ever met lucidly understands that money or a career is not in the least the node in life that will bring them the most satisfaction. Why are we so addicted to work?
It’s a rhetorical question, but one I ask incredulously in the face of so many superficial engagements. It may be too bold to say, but personal fulfillment can never be appropriately set by anyone but the self. We are each idiosyncratically disposed toward a certain, but subject to change, set of inspirations and engagements that allots us the mental and emotional energy to pursue stimulating ends. That’s a rather overcomplicated way of saying we’re creative, and that’s cool.
But certain specters have always traditionally loomed over the considerable personal crusade of leading a fulfilling life, most notably, money. If we were to care about survival alone, i.e. eating, shelter, etc, then we could complete our toilsome work in a couple of hours and spend the rest of the day engaging ourselves in other activities, like many of the so-called ‘underdeveloped’ tribes do. However, with the new specter of survival, the societal survival, we are pressed to engage our lives almost wholesale in the pursuit of non-fulfilling means in the hope of eventual fulfillment, and almost everyone knows it’s bullshit!
There’s much to be said about courageous and relentless introspection. But most of all, I think its benefits are greatest in this: no matter what goals may be (without contention, on my part) possibly fulfilling in our lives, be it love, raising a family or working hard, it will all (even love) be for naught if we do not engage it seeking intellectual stimulation. It’s interesting that love is the easiest, because we’re allowed freedom from societal constructions for at least some of love—we engage our hopes and vulnerable fears in the pursuit of true human connection. But when it comes to work we are too often detoured.
Humans are intellectually voracious. Given correct encouragement and stimuli, they produce fascinating things—almost every one of them. While it may be rather more difficult to change what the specter of society may or may not demand, it is much easier to engage the simple principle of being self-fulfilling persons. In the face of detours it requires courage, but there is no work, no goal, and no life more fulfilling than a personal achievement met.
2 comments:
I would only add that self-fulfillment is parasitic on social engagement and development. None of us exists, or flourishes, in a vacuum.
Ah, good point. Nearly all individuals require healthy interaction, and nearly all goals involve some kind of reliance or affection on other beings; indeed, some are entirely composed of it.
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