We Talk Friday
(WTF)
This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might be heavier - regardless of the content topic itself though, just have some fun engaging and discussing with whoever happens to put in the effort in the comments section below.
What is worth your trouble?
This is the question for tonight's WTF and I think it is worth considering. Because as humans, we are geared toward shortcuts, risk avoidance and favouring feeling good over doing what is beneficial. When it comes to fulfilling individual potential, we are our own worst enemies.
And isolation just makes the problem worse.
Have you ever thought what it would be to live alone? You know, really alone - with no one around, completely self-sufficient. Let's say that you would be able to take care of yourself for survival needs for food, shelter and warmth. I am guessing lots have people have considered this at some level at least. But what about excelling at something. Have you considered that.
How fast can the average person who lives completely alone run? How high can they jump? What I am questioning here is, *what drives them to fulfil their potential - whatever that might be for the individual. When there is no one else to care about, there is also no reason to be great at something. Good enough is all that is required. So under this scenario,
What is worth the trouble?
What pushes an individual to be their best? Where is the incentive to grow as an individual? And it is an interesting situation because a lot of people who say they don't need a relationship, are still in a relationship. They are in a relationship of no relationship. And what this means is that they are going to expend energy in comparison.
Relationships with people are hard. I might get hurt. I might get used. I might feel pain. I am better off alone. Relationships aren't worth the trouble.
Compared to what?
What is worth the trouble? And then, what if the reason some people think a relationship isn't worth the trouble, is because of their definition of relationships, biased by their experiences, or assumptions. Because they got hurt once, cheated on, dumped, disappointed in the past, they make the decision that what they know is as good as it gets.
What if their understanding of the way relationships are is akin to the taste of eating plain rice, without knowing that a relationship can also taste like rip strawberries and fresh cream?
It is the same with people's decisions to not have children. Again, there is nothing wrong with this, but it is also a decision that is based on limited information and understanding about what having a child is like. But, what if it is completely different to what they had ever imagined?
What if what people think isn't worth the trouble, actually is?
It is not that people need to be in relationships or to have children and it is probably better if any don't become parents. However, it is also worth considering what we are willing to put effort into. What is important enough to spend our time, money, and energy on?
Some people climb Mount Everest, some people watch six hours of streaming content a day. What is the difference between the two? And while climbing a mountain is pretty useless as an activity, which brings a higher quality of life?
If rather than looking to avoid work, to take the easy path, and to protect ourselves from being hurt physically or emotionally, we looked at what brought us the highest quality of life in the moment, what would change?
Quality of life doesn't mean what feels the best.
I think most people would like a higher quality of life, in whatever that meant to them. However, moment to moment and day to day, are we making the quality of life decisions? When we sit down to a meal, are we eating for quality of life? When we perform a task at work, does quality of life factor into how we do it?
If we want a high quality of life, we have to perform high quality of life actions.
Whether we live an epic life, or a life of mediocrity. Maybe no matter which, it takes about the same amount of individual energy.
So I ask again, what is worth your trouble?
Taraz
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