“Why is it never enough?”
How far we reach, how much we know and possess, it’s never enough. There is always a feeling of not having enough and a strong desire to get more. It could be within oneself or demanded by the society we thrive in. It’s not only about money. It can be fame, promotions, exploring and learning the unknown, business expansions, discovering facts, it could be anything. One can go through an entire life without ever reaching the satisfaction threshold because there is no limit to achievement. It is a kind of thirst which can never be quenched. Someone has said that Sky is the limit, and one should never settle down. If satisfied, you are in your comfort zone and have stopped growing and learning. Is that true? Why does one have to keep working hard to outdo one’s achievements? We are in a constant fictitious race to prove our worth and keep comparing ourselves to others. This rate race makes us forget to enjoy what we have and the moment we are in. We want more and prove ourselves better than others on every front.
Why can’t we stop this madness, relax, and observe what we have achieved so far? If being satisfied is called being lazy & being failed, then what is contentment?
I always enjoy learning new things and concepts and experimenting with new ideas. I also keep learning and implementing the same in my daily routine. My favorite pastimes are spending time in the library and surfing the net for new courses. One after another, I have completed many IT courses and certifications. However, the digital world is changing so fast that it becomes obsolete before I can even learn to apply the knowledge I gain from various sources. Cloud technology is making us crazy. Every cloud product releases new features and functionality quarterly. We are expected to learn, upgrade, and be ready to unlearn constantly. In the IT industry, either we upgrade our knowledge or be prepared to be left behind in the race. I am trying to figure out what that race is and how I became part of it. But I’ve constantly been told that my actions are insufficient. I need to do more- learn more and produce more. Sometimes, I think I desire constant learning because I am running that fictitious race.
It applies to the IT world and in many other areas and industries. Our advancement and progress in various fields are in leaps and bounds. We are sending spaceships to Mars, building smart autopilot cars, combating invisible airplanes, data science and analytics, Robots cleaning the house, and delivering food. Recently, I bought a mini Google and an Alexa for my home, and I can do many things by just giving a command. It is impressive to see such inventions, but I depend on this technology simultaneously. I ask questions, and I get the answer immediately. Now, it has become easy to learn constantly and improve our knowledge. It sounds great, but there is so much pressure again to do and learn more.
However, on the other side, do we have a cure for Aids, diabetes, or cancer yet? Are we able to control accidents on the road? Do we have accident-free cars? What about the crimes in this world that are coiling around us like snakes?? What about weather forecasting and its accuracy? Many People are still dying due to Tsunamis, earthquakes, and other natural calamities. Not to go very far, half of the world is still ignorant, 11% of the world population lives in extreme poverty, millions of children suffer from malnutrition, and women fight in many countries for their fundamental rights. It’s chaos and an imbalance of power and knowledge. What are we up to? Why don’t we pause and think- It’s enough for now. Let’s enjoy and use what we have created and try to light up the section of the world that is in the dark. Why does anything have to become obsolete so fast? Why deprecate technology before even this can be put in use? Where will all this stop? “The pursuit of ‘enough’ is a fool’s errand; there will always be another goal waiting to be reached.” “It’s human nature always to want more, but happiness lies in recognizing that what we have is already plenty.” “Never enough is a state of mind, not a reality.
The world is changing so fast that many of us are already feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. The world is “Us,” and we are the ones who are steering this change so rapidly that, at times, there is no pause. People who are onboard this ship are relentless. They are suffering, but they don’t want to quit. There is a lot of pressure on Millennials and Gen Z. They are expected to improve this race we are running and make it perfect and fast. They must outdo the success achieved in the past. It’s bizarre! Can’t we see what harm we do to society by creating this eccentric race? We all are running this marathon. Some are fast runners, some are average, and some are beginners. There is no end to this race. Either you keep running and fueling this battle or get out and be ready to be labeled lazy, unaccomplished, or too satisfied. It is the new mantra of today’s world that it’s never enough. Don’t settle down, and keep yearning for more.
“It’s exhausting to constantly strive for never enough when what truly matters is being content with yourself.”
