3 quotes for July 9, 2021

For a master, the rewards gained along the way are fine, but they are not the main reason for the journey. Ultimately, the master and the master's path are one. And if the traveler is fortunate - that is, if the path is complex and profound enough - the destination is two miles farther away for every mile he or she travels.

– George Leonard, from Mastery

Have I told you that I love this book?

Isn't this such a wonderful way to look at a journey? To look at oneself as fortunate when the destination keeps moving further away. Because you are growing, because you are learning and because you now have more complex problems to solve. Embrace it!

Campbell: The way to find out about your happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you really are happy - not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what I call "following your bliss."

Moyers: But how does mythology tell you about what makes you happy?

Campbell: It won't tell you what makes you happy, but it will tell you what happens when you begin to follow your happiness, what the obstacles are that you're going to run into.

– Joseph Campbell, from The Power of Myth

There are some days where I feel drained. And there are some days where I feel energised. And as I log these down and analyse them, I see that they have very little to do with how many hours I worked but more to do what kind of work I had to do that day.

So, even if I feel tired after a long, hard day, it does feel great. And some days, I feel lousy, even if I have done very little. I don't think the point is to avoid hard work, coz what else is there, but to do what you are here to do. But first, to figure out what that is. And when you are on that path, the various difficulties you will face. That's where these myths come in - those metaphors for conquering monsters and slaying dragons and rescuing princesses.

Rationalization is Resistance's right-hand man. Its job is to keep us from feeling the shame we would feel if we truly faced what cowards we are for not doing our work.

– Steven Pressfield, from The War of Art

Slap in the face. That's what this book is. And there are many days when I need it, and 5 minutes with this book is enough to make me have a slightly more productive day than I would've without that slap.

Don't feel like lifting weights today? Oh, it’s okay. You lifted so well yesterday. You deserve this break. Feel like eating cake? Of course, you should. You deserve it.

There are days to chill and rest. Most days, you shut up and do the work. Your feelings have no role to play. And if you let your mind rationalise, you've lost.

Thanks for reading! I hope you got something out of this.