Outwardly facing, the artisan with his dream job who works long days in the French countryside works hard — really hard. But he’d disagree. He loves what he does, so he isn’t working at all. What he does is art, not work. Both art and work involve individual agency, but art lacks tension — its without effort.
When you love what you’re doing, it’s easy to make sacrifice. It’s easy to stay up late into the night. It’s easy to say no to social events and things that don’t interest you. It’s easy to say no! Many struggle to say no, but they have just yet to find their true passion. When they do, they can compassionately reject distraction in favor of their passion.
In everything you do, pay attention to the tension and struggle that exists between you and the task. When you love the things you do, ‘working hard’ comes effortless. It’s natural, a no-brainer, an unconscious decision you make when you unconsciously fall in love with something.
Thinking you need to work harder, work longer hours, grind more is all a trap. If you’re asking these questions, you’re doing the wrong thing. If you can’t obsess over something naturally, someone else will and you’re beat. Find your passion and excel.