Over my years I have struggled with poor mental health. Ups and down. Sometimes highly motivated to work, other times totally unmotivated and depressed by it all. Sometimes positive about life, other times I wonder what it is all about, and why don't I just end it already (because I know it's got to end some day.) And I have read a lot of self-help stuff. And closing in on 50 years old (okay another year plus to go) I've come to the conclusion that a lot of these self-help gurus are missing a major point:
Everyone is Different
Simple illustration. Gandhi wasn't a self-help guru, but his quote "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" is often quoted as a bit of self-help. I took this onboard too, it sounds like good advice, but my ego/psyche (not sure what the right word is) rebelled against it. Why?! I don't want to be a servant, I don't want to serve others, I want to be a god!
Yes, my reason for rebelling against Gandhi is daft but you have to be honest with yourself. Yes, I don't want to be a servant, I want to be a god! And I know this is unrealistic, but I cannot help feeling that way. Too many years of playing Civilization and other "god-like" computer games has perhaps warped my mind. I enjoyed being a god in these games. It is what I want.
I want to be a god!
How can I use this bit of truth, or should I just kill myself already!?
Instead of asking a question (from self-help gurus) like -
Q: How can I create value for others?
- ask -
Q: How can I be godlike?
Applying Godlike to Work
If you're a salaried worker like I am (I wish I wasn't but I'm paid a good salary and have never come across anything - that I think I would be good at - that could be a good business idea for me; which would give me freedom from having a manager, freedom from being a wage slave ... no matter how much you like your salaried job, we are all wage slaves!).
Q: If you're a salaried worker like I am, what can you do?
A: Try to be as godlike at your job as you can!
In other words, be motivated to learn, be motivated to understand everything, be motivated to acquire the skills needed, be motivated to excel, be motivated to be the god!
I think that is worth another post.
