You need to figure out who you are. There is something at which you are considerably better than average. Find it. (There are other things at which you are below average. That's OK. It can be useful to know what they are, but don't dwell on it.)
The thing(s) at which you're better than average, work to get even better at.
And if you're never the best? Well, that you need to learn to be OK with.
> You are in a cycle of slave-driving yourself. You remind me of Jiddu Krishnamurthi's assertion that "Influence acts strongest when you don't realize that it is acting". I would venture that most of your accomplishments are a result of being told what you should do, what you should be.
> You will NEVER have the energy that the people whom you compare with have. Because they are being themselves, and are connected to the natural wellspring of motivation that comes from genuine interest, while you are the salmon swimming upstream, aping societal ideals and trying to be someone you are not.
> Choose the opposite for a while : stop doing things that don't motivate you. Find out what motivates you. Be spontaneous. If you find a small plant at the roadside that you want to water, do it. Observe that absolutely no effort was required in this action. This is the mark of genuine flow : you will not feel the effort. If you chance upon some project which you execute in this natural state of interest, you will not feel tired.
> Almost no one takes my advice because it's so threatening to be natural. What if you are not naturally ambitious? That's a horrific thought to have while being in the company of achievers, isn't it?
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACHIEVE TO ENJOY LIFE. YOU ENJOY LIFE BY ENJOYING IT.
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[ 4.1 ms ] story [ 16.8 ms ] threadThe thing(s) at which you're better than average, work to get even better at.
And if you're never the best? Well, that you need to learn to be OK with.
This is the top post in another thread. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9337863
>> It's been getting better.
> It's not, it's getting worse.
> You are in a cycle of slave-driving yourself. You remind me of Jiddu Krishnamurthi's assertion that "Influence acts strongest when you don't realize that it is acting". I would venture that most of your accomplishments are a result of being told what you should do, what you should be.
> You will NEVER have the energy that the people whom you compare with have. Because they are being themselves, and are connected to the natural wellspring of motivation that comes from genuine interest, while you are the salmon swimming upstream, aping societal ideals and trying to be someone you are not.
> Choose the opposite for a while : stop doing things that don't motivate you. Find out what motivates you. Be spontaneous. If you find a small plant at the roadside that you want to water, do it. Observe that absolutely no effort was required in this action. This is the mark of genuine flow : you will not feel the effort. If you chance upon some project which you execute in this natural state of interest, you will not feel tired.
> Almost no one takes my advice because it's so threatening to be natural. What if you are not naturally ambitious? That's a horrific thought to have while being in the company of achievers, isn't it?
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACHIEVE TO ENJOY LIFE. YOU ENJOY LIFE BY ENJOYING IT.