Success is being happy

An ancient Tao thought says: “Choose a job you love — and you won’t have to work a day in your life!” The first secret of success is: Don’t work just for wages, work for the love of God. You can work too, for the love of humanity, or for the love of work itself. Your work then becomes a source of joy and delight.

There is much talk about vocational education today. The word ‘vocation’ is derived from the Latin root which means ‘to call’. Let your work be a calling. Let your work be a labour of love, something that you love to do, and something that you enjoy doing, much more than just a source of monetary benefit. Labour of love leads to fulfilment.

In cities when people are assigned work, they always ask: “What’s in it for me?” or “What do I get for this?” People work only for wages; they have forgotten what it is to view work as a source of delight. So work has become a cause of so much boredom for some and frustration for many.

Andrew Carnegie tells us that there are three types of people: The first type: Those who do as little work as possible. The second type: Those who do only what their work stipulates; nothing more. But the third type comprises those who do their duty, and a little more. They are not bound by the clock. If there is work to be done, they will do it, and more.

In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishna expounds on the doctrine of karma yoga. He tells Arjuna: “Remember, to work you have the right, but not to the fruit thereof”. You must work, you must put in your best efforts, and you must not slacken your endeavours. But you must not be disappointed if you do not get the result you seek. Perhaps many of you find this unacceptable.

You will ask me, “But what about my just compensation? How can anyone work without wages in this world of growing needs?” Indeed, work and wages go together. They are two sides of the same coin. Whether you work for wages or otherwise, wages are sure to fall into your lap. I am talking about your attitude to work. It is your attitude that will make your life a success or otherwise.

And your work should be an expression of your love. Those of us who work only for wages will never experience real joy. And when you love your work, you will find it a joy forever. There is no happiness in wealth; but there is considerable wealth in the experience of happiness. I urge you, stop working simply for wages; start working for love. Many of us tend to equate success with money: More and more money, more material acquisitions.

The truth is, external achievements and monetary wealth cannot constitute true success, nor can they guarantee happiness. Power, prestige, position, designations, perks, social influence, all these are in the outer. They touch the fringe of life; they don’t enter the depths within.

What then is success all about? Success is the ability to be happy and make others happy, the ability to love and be loved, and the ability to remain in peaceful harmony with yourself, with those around you and with God’s cosmic laws.