Constantly Chasing
What’s the easiest way to get something done? What’s the easiest way to reach a goal? Obviously, it takes time and effort, and generally, the more you put in, the faster you achieve your goal, and the faster you can move on to the next one and achieve greater things. We chase these accomplishments because we tell ourselves that by doing so, we will be happier, more satisfied, and more successful. But in the end, what do all these goals lead to? What happens after we accomplish a goal?
Induction
Start with a base case. This could be your current situation and your current goal. Once you achieve your goal, there’s a next step, a greater goal. There is always a next step, no matter where you are in life. You could always improve yourself, make more money, and improve your physical and mental health. By ONP (Amber’s workshop reference!), or weak induction (for the rest of the world), there will be infinitely many steps. With a finite amount of time, unless you complete each successive task or goal in half the time of the previous, you won’t be able to do everything.
But still we seek to accomplish more, to climb another step, in hopes of the elusive fulfillment that comes at the end. Yet there is no end.
Futility
I saw this pattern show up in my own life not too long ago. I recently attended the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM), a six-week math program. During a time when I was especially stressed about college applications, Amber came up to me and we talked for a while. She not only talked about how I would be alright despite the outcome, but also about something that still resonates with me. Getting into HCSSiM was amazing; I was overjoyed when I received the “Yes, Please” email. It was an accomplishment for me, since I put a lot of effort into my application and I believed I would get rejected. And there I was, wasting my valuable six weeks stressing about what would happen once the program ended. Amber told me that I should try to enjoy my time at Hampshire and not worry about college essays or the Common App for the time being, and I decided to follow her advice.
I don’t regret it one bit.
But I believe she was right; I almost lost precious time by stressing about the next step, the next goal I was aiming for. And I believe that fulfillment doesn’t come from constantly chasing goals, it comes from those short, yet valuable moments of rest in between goals, those moments when you can be proud of yourself and be fulfilled for once.
Ultimately though, it’s usually the people who constantly chase their aspirations who accomplish more, to no surprise. The difference lies in how we feel when we choose to chase or to not chase. I don’t know which choice is objectively better, but either choice is better than no choice at all. I think it’s best for individuals to decide for themselves what they want to do.
Life Update!
School started. The responsibilities are already piling up, albeit slowly. It feels a bit strange being in a different environment once I’d gotten used to HCSSiM. It feels like the passion, the motivation is much lower. But it’s pointless, expecting other people to live up to high standards. I’ll just have to get my college applications ready for now.
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