In a world that thrives on competitiveness and reaching the end goal by any means possible, it seems that people have forgotten the role of hard work in their lives. Douglas Malloch, in his poem, Be the Best says,
“If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley – but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush, if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make….”
His words highlight the importance of hard work, regardless of the circumstances out of one’s control.
What Is Hard Work In The 21st Century?
In a dominantly digital age where technological advances have lessened the burden from human shoulders, it is crucial to acknowledge that the concept of hard work and study help has not disappeared. But, unfortunately, some people may confuse scrolling through social media apps for hours as productive work or internet fatigue as the tiredness from hard work.
As a result, the concept of hard work has become somewhat questionable, with people trying to reach their goals exerting the minimum effort possible.
The Intrinsic Relation Between Spirituality & Hard Work
The hunt for spirituality has always been fraught with a variety of opinions from all around. While some people consider religion a close part of spiritualism, others believe you don’t need to be religious to attain spirituality.
According to a global survey from YouGov, it seems that nurturing spiritualism has been America’s top 10 New Year’s Resolutions in 2020. Yet, despite this growing interest in spiritualism, many people tend to look in the other direction when they realize hard work is an essential spiritual practice. While there is no guarantee leading a hard-working life leads to spiritual fulfillment, it nonetheless increases the possibility of reaching the goal.
Malloch’s poem highlights how you don’t have to be a pine tree on top of a hill as long as you do your best being a scrub in the valley. This brings up the idea that the social distinctions that separate the value of a person in modern society are nothing but an illusion that human beings have created in their minds.
In the eye of God, every person is equal. There is no difference between the sweeper waking up at the crack of dawn to brush away the dead leaves with the CEO putting on his suit to attend the yearly meeting. Instead, God places more importance on the effort and hard work every person puts into living their life to the fullest.
Understanding Spiritualism Through Hard Work
Attaining spirituality isn’t a walk in the park. It takes years to reach the state of mind where you can view your hard work as not something to groan about but a gift from God.
While living your mortal life, it is pretty easy to lose your grand vision and become unable to see life as a gift from God. Moreover, living the same routine every day can inflict boredom in your life and prevent you from enjoying your days to the fullest.
However, you come one step closer to attaining spiritualism when you can grasp the little joys of life. The Pixar movie Soul (2020) explores a similar concept. When alive, Joe Gardner worked hard every day, waiting to catch a big break and become a professional jazz musician. But when life cuts short for him, he finally realizes that the mundane life he led every day had moments of joy intertwined in them.
God doesn’t care whether you are born a millionaire or a simple grocery owner’s child. But what matters the most is how much hard work you put into living your life and the joys you attain from it. Your capacity as a human being grows when you enjoy your hard work and the results you obtain.
The fruits of your labor taste sweeter when you share the joy with your loved ones and give back to the community. It doesn’t matter whether you are sipping on wine or orange juice as long as you savor every moment of it and are thankful to the people around you and the higher power that made all of this possible.
4 Tips To Work Hard Efficiently For Spiritual Betterment
Millions of people worldwide work hard, but only a few attain the spiritual transcendence that they desire. This is because they lose sight of their goals and find themselves struggling with the pitfalls that life brings about. However, with the help of five simple tips, you can successfully pull yourself out of the trenches and walk the right path to attain spirituality.
1. Never think you’re alone in your struggles
Working hard every day is bound to tire you out, and the tendrils of loneliness can sweep in to keep you from achieving your spiritual goal. However, this is where you need to remind yourself that you’re not alone.
God is there with you every step of the way and will never give you a test that you cannot overcome by yourself. So, every time you feel weary from the never-ending cycle of work, think of the Almighty Spirit right next to you, cheering you on.
2. Don’t let the negative emotions win the war
Sometimes, laziness, apathy, and drowsiness might win the battle, but they should never win the war. A person can’t remain positive 24/7 and, as a result, you can become afflicted with monotonous tasks every day. Additionally, the stress and anxiety that usually accompanies your work can accumulate over time and make you numb to the blessing all around, similar to what Joe Gardner faces in the movie Soul.
Hence, the best option in such cases is to take time out of your busy schedule and meditate. When you close your eyes and lose yourself to meditation, it becomes easier to let go of these negative emotions that hinder you from achieving your goal.
3. Understand why you’re working hard in the first place
When you’re clear about your purpose, nothing can shake you from attaining your goal. Ask yourself, who are you working so hard for? Is it for yourself or your family? Working without any purpose in life can suck the life out of your soul and make you apathetic and sometimes hostile to the world around you.
Instead, take a break and try to figure out what your goal is. It doesn’t have to be something grand. In fact, it could be something as trivial as buying a new pair of shoes or taking your family out for a nice dinner.
4. Don’t expect immediate results
Sometimes, the fruits of hard work can take time to shine. For example, seeing how the Korean series Squid Game has gone viral worldwide, you could never have guessed that the creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had to face years of rejections until he finally landed such immense success. This is a result of his hard work and dedication to not give up in the absence of immediate success.
Summing it up,
Working hard is merely a vehicle that can help you reach your final destination of spirituality. Even though many people spend their entire lives working for hours, they somehow end up losing their direction. However, it becomes easier to change your perspective and look at the broader picture only when you realize that a higher spiritual power is right by your side.
Author – Sylar Lucas is a professional blogger and is a part-time spiritual teacher, guiding people through the intricacies of their life. His teaching is rooted in discovering the spiritual benefits of entrusting everything to a higher power. Currently, Lucas is busy drafting her first book to guide more people to the benefits of leading a spiritual life.