2. Not Recognized by Others, Not Profitable, Not Enjoyable
When people encounter three kinds of “not”―not recognized by others, not profitable, and not enjoyable―they tend to stop whatever they are doing.
If a person feels they are “not recognized” by others, they might think what they are doing is wrong. An example of this would be if their statements are criticized or their actions don’t bring joy to others.
When something is “not profitable,” people often lose motivation. Examples include when sales performance doesn’t improve or when sales slump for an extended period.
If something is “not enjoyable,” it often leads to physical decline. For instance, someone who dislikes smoking but is constantly surrounded by smoke, or the shortened lifespan of an elderly person living in isolation, can be examples.
Despite the presence or absence of these three “nots,” there is something that can keep a person going: “enjoyment.” The “enjoyment” referred to here differs from the superficial kind; it is a deep-seated, constant pleasure, often described as “quiet enjoyment” or “deep satisfaction.”
For example, there are people who do heavy labor and look forward to that one drink after work. Others may engage in farming from dawn to dusk and find great comfort in the simple pleasure of lying in bed at the end of the day.
This type of enjoyment isn’t about exuberant joy or excitement, but rather about an essential and unchanging human satisfaction. Once a person becomes aware of this joy, they stop expecting or caring about the results of their actions or the evaluations of others. They simply live. The act of living in the present moment becomes a joy in itself.
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