There is an age-old saying ‘No pains, no gains’. This is true also that no task can be accomplished without working hard. ‘Working hard’ means utilizing utmost potential and vigour while executing any task. It is an indispensable virtue. As air, water and food are indispensable for life so is striving to lead a contented life. Life becomes lethargic and aimless in the long run. Striving hard keeps the spirit of living high and prevents negative traits like worries, disappointment and low self-esteem. This way one also realizes the true worth of one’s potential. It’s through hard work that one can earn his living and also reach an admirable position in life. If any part of a machine is left unused for a long time then it starts rusting which doesn’t let the machine run smoothly. In the same way, a man who doesn’t strive loses his capabilities, strength and also talent.
Striving hard is the only means that helps to achieve any task successfully. Success is like a long cherished dream which when achieved after a long struggle is much more satisfying than an achievement gained without pains. Those who understand its importance never refrain from it. The essence of life can be realized only after success gained after hard work. Initially one feels tired while striving hard but soon feels satisfied when he enjoys the results along with sound sleep as a result of his day long struggle. Sound sleep is a boon as it comes only to those who strive hard and are achievers. Only a hard taskmaster knows what sound sleep is and how it works to accomplish the set goal. Sound sleep refreshes the mind and changes it with new enthusiasm and energy. Rest also has a vital role to play in revitalizing the mind and body.
Here is an anecdote regarding the role of rest and work in life. Once in a forest came a young lad and a group of woodcutters to cut down trees for earning their livelihood .The young lad was a very hard worker and worked for long hours nonstop. On the other hand the aged group of woodcutters worked for some time then took a break. They talked, laughed and rested for some time and then resumed their work. Whenever the lad saw them he thought they were wasting time. As days passed by he realized that the wood being cut down by them was far more than he did though he did not waste time nor took breaks. His low output was a reason to worry and so he worked even harder but yet lagged behind. The group of old woodcutters invited him to join them for tea at break. The young lad flatly refused saying that it would waste his crucial time of work. A wise old man smiled and said, ‘Child you are a hard worker. You chop down trees daily tirelessly but the outcome is not in proportion because you haven’t sharpened your axe for a long time. In spite of your toiling hard the result is not appreciable and so soon you will feel exhausted, ill and wish to quit this job out of frustration in the long run.’ The young lad realized his folly and was astonished to know that while resting they sharpened their axes. The wise old man further advised, “Work whole heartedly but keep analyzing your work time and again to overcome your shortcomings, think new ideas, refine your work through your experience and develop your own tact and skills. Only then can you finish your work and get free time for other chores. Without hard work done in a defined way no one can accomplish an appreciable task. While the rest phase provides strength to the body, the mind exercises over the work done from different angles and generates effective methods and policies to increase output.”
While working one should focus on the work at hand but also keep on improving skills and talents. Only then the work repays boundlessly and talent gained and skills developed become treasures for life time. Only skilled and experienced hands produce master pieces. And that’s success. Overcoming one’s shortcomings, correcting faults and follies is the tact to develop skills. Skills cannot be gained at once; they have to be augmented day by day.
The appreciable, unique work we come across in life is initially developed in a man’s mind. The skilful hands then transform it into shape and form. That’s the beauty of hard work. Hard work is the symbol of success.
Colin Powell has rightly said, ‘A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.’ One who patiently and keenly observes and trains the mind to analyze, realize and reproduce is an excellent striver. The lives of great people justify that consisting striving towards a fixed goal helps fulfil it, making them admirable for the rest. Some are born gifted while others train themselves through hard work. Another great scholar has quoted, ‘To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It’s not about winning and losing; it’s about everyday hard work and about thriving on a challenge. It’s about embracing the pain that you’ll experience at the end of a race and not being afraid. I think people think too hard and get afraid of a certain challenge.’
The founder of Yug Nirman Mission, our revered Gurudev, while addressing the volunteers at Shantikunj always stressed that out of twenty four hours, eight hours be spent for earning livelihood, five hours for household chores, seven hours for rest and the remaining four hours for developing ones talents and skills. In this way he taught that along with work rest is also essential and developing skills is indispensable. Tasks performed through skilled hands are far more valuable than those by unskilled ones.
Definitely a hard worker is happy, contented and progressive. He enjoys life in his own way. Simply by channelizing one’s work through one’s experience, life becomes a bliss and work a pleasure. Avoiding work gives only negativity, sickness and poor life to repent and cry over ill fate.
Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2015 Mar-Apr