Happy Labour day! I hope you’re enjoying your time off
:)
Quit Quitting is a buzzword recently popularized by Zaiad Khan’s viral TikTok video. He describes the new phenomenon as “not quitting your job, but quitting the idea of going above and beyond.”
Our modern world demands that we work. We are slaves to the hustle & grind culture so deeply ingrained in our mindset that taking a day off work just to lazily sit around, or pursue a leisure activity, puts the heavy burden of guilt on our shoulders.
We feel guilty to relax — think about that madness.
If we’re not striving for greater success, we are quickly labelled as ‘lazy,’ ‘lacking vision,’ or, my favourite, a ‘loser.’
Fun Fact: We didn’t always use the word loser to describe someone going through a rough patch in their life — we used the term misfortunate. During the middle ages, when you met a poor person, that person would be described as ‘unfortunate.’ As our society evolved and we became more individualistic, the term morphed into what it is today — a heavy burden for many to carry.
Life is not something we can bend to our Will — it will hit us like a freight truck whether we like it or not. Yet, perversely, throughout all of modern-day culture, we are constantly being force-fed the idea that if we believe in ourselves or if we outwork everyone in the room (propagated throughout movies, music and self-help books) that we are guaranteed a spot at the top; that life will magically embrace us with open arms, shower us in money, success & fame and we will finally live our deserved happy ending. We are told that in order to be happy, we have to work ourselves down to the sinew in our bones. Only by working hard, by giving our blood, sweat and tears, are we deemed worthy.
The issue with that mindset is that if the people at the top of the hierarchy are deemed deserving of being there, then the inverse would also be true — people at the bottom deserve to be there. But how many people - good people - find themselves exploited by those at the top who don’t deserve it? Madness once again.
I believe there is an undercurrent that runs beneath us, invisible to the naked eye, that guides and shapes our existence. Sort of like fate, but not in some woo-woo way, more like, you’re meant to be where you are when you’re there, enjoy that moment and be thankful for what you have.
The never-ending rat race is a race to the bottom, regardless of how much money you make, power you hold or fame you possess. Once you attain it, will you be satisfied? Happy?
Maybe. Or, you’ll keep wanting more.
The trick is to figure out what you want (and it’s fine if that thing you want evolves.) You don’t need to stick to one job for 20 years or stay within the confines of a single industry for the rest of your life. You don’t need to go above and beyond to please your employer while they look down on you. You don’t need to monetize your hobbies and turn them into side hustles; you can just have fun. We are all complex and beautiful human beings with transforming interests and curious characteristics — the awe of Life comes from the exploration of the unknown, not from the mundane repetition.
So, I challenge you - dear reader - to go out and try something new; jump off the proverbial cliff and spread your wings; you never know where it might take you.
Your work does not define you.
I hope you have a great rest of your day.
:)
Read my last post on how to structure your day better. Are there any topics you would want me to cover next? Let me know!