The Final Problem

There are several people further along the personal-development road than myself. They have their lives handled and are generally content in the way things are going - and they're doing the things they want to do.

This is a note to you, them, and myself in the future. Because, I've discovered something else that's harder to admit (and I'll probably forget it sooner or later). This is that in many cases, all they are doing is their tried-and-true method for happiness. They are productive members of our society, and they're helping the human race. They DESERVE to feel happy. And yet, the battle doesn't really stop there. You shouldn't stop just because you feel happy. The problem is, we do. We just don't try as hard when we're happy.

I probably sound horribly cruel. I'm not saying you don't DESERVE to be happy. I think these happy people could be doing so much more - but don't, because, after all, they've come along way, and gotten to the "top".

I'm getting off-topic.

My point is this. Imagine it's five years from now.* I've turned this website into a huge success, and now I'm happy (I feel I've accomplished something) Next I'll feel I don't need to set my goals as high (not as high globally, they'll still be high personally) This could mean spending a year in silence, in the woods, building a house out of wood. I'll go through extreme physical hardships, I'll cut down all the trees and saw them myself, I'll push myself to the limits. A year later, my wooden house in the woods is complete. I'll go inside, and lie on the floor, feeling the exhilariting rush of completion. What will I have gained? I'll be in better physical strength, I'll be more confident, and perhaps I'll be slightly better of a person (more in tune with nature?)

But it will have been a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. Machines could have done the same thing in only a couple of days! I could have accomplished much more from a global standpoint if only I'd not let my personal happiness get in the way.

Examples of things that give you that happy feeling (that may not be a good thing):
- Mowing the Lawn. This is a big one, and the one I hate most. Don't get stuck in this habbit!
- Fishing. Really. It's nice to try, and definately a skill, but fishing just because it feels good = not good.
- Watching Every Episode of a Television Series Just to Say You Did. Only watch TV if you get something from it mentally, IE it makes you think.
- Playing Video Games. Seriously! Playing video games on a whole isn't bad, but playing "just to level up a character" or "so I'll do good in battles" is a waste of time.
- Listening to Music. Eh... not too sure on this one. I think we benefit from listening to music.
- Counting X (coins, pencils, trees, etc.). It's so trivial!

That last one is the basic embodiement of what I'm talking about. Something that has NO real-world benifit, and only serves to help you (to make you feel better).

From what I understand, people with OCD might be a good example of this.

I think that this is one of the last pitfalls some great people are coming to. They're so close to the finish, and they bog themselves down with work and personal goals. I can only hope that someday I WON'T fall into the same traps.

And by the way, even though I dislike it, we all give respect to people who do this. It's a kind of sacrafice. I guess it's not respect so much as grieving. If I saw someone (someone I knew who was a great guy, and an extremely positive influence on everyone) counting strands of grass for ten years, I would consider it a waste of life. I wouldn't be mad at all - I would grieve.

* = Steve Pavlina once wrote about an exercise involving talking to mental versions of yourself from 5 years in the past and future. While this was unrelated to what I was talking about, it nevertheless is something I'm going to try. You can read about it here: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/my-favorite-meditation/