Singapore tops the tables in so many categories; it has the lowest crime; there were 80 days in which not a single robbery was recorded. It is home to the healthiest people in the world. It is the easiest place to do business. It is one of the least corrupt countries in the world, and has the best education system in the world. It has the lowest drug abuse in the world. Everything has consequences. Short and medium term progress is symptomatic of structure and process. The coverage of Africa in the media, and interest in its political and economic situation from China is significant as a result. The Chinese put in place structure and process in Africa and continue to make significant returns from it. What structure and process don’t bring is happiness. Happiness is the sustaining factor. For something to last, there must be happiness. If you sense people aren’t happy working for you, they’ll likely leave soon, unless the external circumstances don’t permit them to do so. Singapore, according to a Gallup survey, also has the least happy people in the world, even beating Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Despite of all the process and structure, there’s not happiness. Why?
Goals, goals & goals
If you are taught that to become number one is the all in all, then your happiness may likely become tied to this. Some people make it to number one, and indeed they may be happy. But there is only one person who is number one; what happens to the rest? Maybe they’re the ones who answered the Gallup survey. I came across a very fitting quote from a friend who was reading Hermann Hesse, “The trouble with goals is that one becomes obsessed with the goals. When you are seeking, it means there is something to find. But the real freedom is the realisation that there are no goals. There is only the now.” The way I would understand this, or want it to apply is that whilst we should absolutely have goals, these should always stay in perspective. Perspective doesn’t mean that once every now and again we donate a few goods to people who need them, or make some food for poor people. Yes, that may help us keep perspective. But perspective means to constantly be conscious of the now and be content with the now. It is an important distinction to draw, if we are continually meditating on our goals as the all in all, then we inevitably will become attached. The Bhagawad Gita says “While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.” This should answer the question asked in the last section regarding happiness, as if one is focused on these goals of being number one to an extent that it becomes an obsession, according to the Bhagawad Gita, this doesn’t sit well with being happy.
So what?
I’ve been taught by many people to ask “So what?” If people are proposing a problem, or pitching a big solution, the key question is “So what?” Many seniors around me have always taught me this. They’re thinking of the bottom line. If you do x and y, then so what? Ok, so you propose x, so what? Is there something wrong with this kind of mentality? I make it a point when teaching martial arts to the under 18’s that one should be on time. It is critical that you are mentally prepared before getting up to spar or to perform a drill. Without the mental preparation, failure may be a result of something you could have avoided. Which is not ideal, and may cause regret. So as a standard, I like to be well on time. This means am sometimes in a real rush to get to the centre. This week is the end of the first week of a month called Kartik, a sacred month in the Hindu calendar. Instead of drawing up many steep targets and extra austerities I would perform, I said I will just take things slower, try to build more perspective in what I do. In the spirit of slowing down, as I left the flat to go to the centre, I left well ahead of time, so that I could ease myself of mental pressure of being there on time, rushing for buses etc. It was ok in the bus, but as soon as I came off the bus, I felt an uncontrolled urge to hurry up, to run. Why? Because we’re conditioned to doing this. We are so outcome oriented, we fail to acknowledge and appreciate the process enough. Not always being in “So what?” mode, is a liberating place to be. People around you will feel that also. People who work for you will feel that. This kind of mentality, combined with a serious drive to focus and get things done to a very high standard, for the sake of doing it, not for the desire of what you get as a result; is a clear winner in avoiding having all the process and structure in the world, but no happiness.
If you are taught that to become number one is the all in all, then your happiness may likely become tied to this. Some people make it to number one, and indeed they may be happy. But there is only one person who is number one; what happens to the rest? Maybe they’re the ones who answered the Gallup survey. I came across a very fitting quote from a friend who was reading Hermann Hesse, “The trouble with goals is that one becomes obsessed with the goals. When you are seeking, it means there is something to find. But the real freedom is the realisation that there are no goals. There is only the now.” The way I would understand this, or want it to apply is that whilst we should absolutely have goals, these should always stay in perspective. Perspective doesn’t mean that once every now and again we donate a few goods to people who need them, or make some food for poor people. Yes, that may help us keep perspective. But perspective means to constantly be conscious of the now and be content with the now. It is an important distinction to draw, if we are continually meditating on our goals as the all in all, then we inevitably will become attached. The Bhagawad Gita says “While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.” This should answer the question asked in the last section regarding happiness, as if one is focused on these goals of being number one to an extent that it becomes an obsession, according to the Bhagawad Gita, this doesn’t sit well with being happy.
So what?
I’ve been taught by many people to ask “So what?” If people are proposing a problem, or pitching a big solution, the key question is “So what?” Many seniors around me have always taught me this. They’re thinking of the bottom line. If you do x and y, then so what? Ok, so you propose x, so what? Is there something wrong with this kind of mentality? I make it a point when teaching martial arts to the under 18’s that one should be on time. It is critical that you are mentally prepared before getting up to spar or to perform a drill. Without the mental preparation, failure may be a result of something you could have avoided. Which is not ideal, and may cause regret. So as a standard, I like to be well on time. This means am sometimes in a real rush to get to the centre. This week is the end of the first week of a month called Kartik, a sacred month in the Hindu calendar. Instead of drawing up many steep targets and extra austerities I would perform, I said I will just take things slower, try to build more perspective in what I do. In the spirit of slowing down, as I left the flat to go to the centre, I left well ahead of time, so that I could ease myself of mental pressure of being there on time, rushing for buses etc. It was ok in the bus, but as soon as I came off the bus, I felt an uncontrolled urge to hurry up, to run. Why? Because we’re conditioned to doing this. We are so outcome oriented, we fail to acknowledge and appreciate the process enough. Not always being in “So what?” mode, is a liberating place to be. People around you will feel that also. People who work for you will feel that. This kind of mentality, combined with a serious drive to focus and get things done to a very high standard, for the sake of doing it, not for the desire of what you get as a result; is a clear winner in avoiding having all the process and structure in the world, but no happiness.
