RE: Book notes: Thrive or what I learned about managing your life from Arianna Huffington
Really good points, wrapped up with a really good question.
Unfortunatelly, I don't think there are many competitive jobs that would allow someone who is struggling to ascend to a certain possition enough time to sleep well, disconnect from technology or practice some meditation.
One of the things I see about some areas in the corporate world, and even in academia, is that jobs demand so much from people, they make you feel inadequate if you dont work 150%, they make you feel there is a long list of better people waiting if you slack a little, they make you sacrifice family and friends and then they make you feel like you had options.
The actual sacrifice is then seen as part of your inadequacy. You are supposed to do all the super human work and have time for leasure.
I think that for those who live to be successful at work it does not quite matter much if you end up alone on the top. I think that for them human company, unless it contributes somehow to consolidate professional success, is disposable.
I can totally understand your points - I've certainly been there myself. I think Arianna is trying to say though that success can be defined differently - just because some people see it as reaching the top, working 80 hour weeks, etc. doesn't mean that it has to be defined in the same way for you. And we all have opinions on what we think is right and best - the challenge might be then to achieve 'success' for yourself while ignoring what others say about how lazy you are or how you're not putting in all nighters to get the job done.
One of the things that really helps give me perspective is that if you flash forward to the end of your life and imagine everyone is standing around your coffin or reminiscing about you (you've passed away at this point), are they going to say "Wow, hlezama was such a hard worker. He put in 80 hour weeks!". I think instead that they are going to say "hlezama was such a good husband or partner or father or he was a very good son".
Right. Unless we redefine and adapt success to whatever gives us satisfaction, regarless of public opinion, the anxiety and frustration derived from unfilled expectations would be unbearable.
I think artists and celebrities can attest to that at the most dramatic level.