Which one is better?
Since to every end is a means… Is being productive a long term game and feeling fulfilled a short term game? Or is it the other way around? Specifically if they serve the same purpose. Do they?
Today I spoke about this with a good friend and noticed that oftentimes people want to “figure out stuff on their own”. And that’s an adult way of saying “I want to learn this myself, and if I fall I don’t care because I am able to stand up. Regardless from the fact that you are afraid that I fall and that you might want to protect me from the pains of falling”.
Buddha figured it out: If you are refrained from pain, ultimately you will suffer intense and distructive pain.
So whst I concluded from this is the following: we may lean more when we solve puzzles at the intersection of challenge and skill. Then we feel fulfilled. And at the same time if we’re a bit further from that intersection, we are probably more productive and efficient. Because we have less challenges to overcome, less to learn and more to do of what we’re good at.
Neither is the right one. Both can serve the same purpose of leading a rich (the mental one) and free life.
If we take a step back, uncovering which one you are performing, might provide you with new perspective.