Success vs. Joy

- XXXIII -

Joy is Freedom

When some people achieve what they originally set out for, their passion begins to diminish. Others find their energies dissipated because they have to tackle many other issues. For instance, a senior executive may be asked to follow up on actions and implement already approved programs, whereas his true joy comes from planning. He may end up losing focus on what gives him the greatest satisfaction. In the long run, he is headed for a burnout. The solution is to continue learning and practicing with the faith that you will eventually come across something that will renew your purpose. I have seen this happen again and again in the game.

I have been happiest when learning with no goal in sight. Many wonder how I can still happily practice for hours on end all on my own. But that is exactly what gives me the greatest joy. Even today I learn something new every day.

A free person will always do what gives him joy. Of course, there is a price one has to pay for this freedom. That price may be your relationships, or your ignorance of what is happening in the world around you. But how much can one person know in a single lifetime. Is it personally important for me to carefully read each and every issue of Time magazine? We are just specks in a great universe of knowledge. Ultimately we’re all ignorant. So what’s the big deal? Why should I care if I don’t know some facts that someone else does!

In the information age, there are many compulsive seekers of information. There are some who have to gather information continuously to effectively fulfill their professional responsibilities. For others, access to information is not just a source of power, but it also provides them a certain social currency. But at times their bank balance of information may just provide them status and not necessarily knowledge or wisdom.

For instance, I may be able to impress a group of five people in a party on the state of the world’s economy. Their reaction may make me feel proud of myself. But pride is not joy.

In my opinion, those who constantly seek information miss out on something that is generated from within – that something is called joy. While one should not undervalue the importance of information, I can say that my personal growth and learning has come from first-hand experience and not The Times of India or the World Wide Web.

The point that I am trying to make is simple – joy emanates from one’s own actions, from what one feels deep down inside. A great person could direct me towards the path of enlightenment and help me understand the wisdom of the Almighty. But joy can come only from what I do. It has to involve ME, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Chapter XXXII :: Chapter XXXIV