Trying too Hard or Not Hard enough

I have been told before that I work too hard. Why is it that the assiduous are told they are working too hard more often than the lazy are not working hard enough? How can you judge that work ethic -- that assiduous commitment -- has reached a maximum level? Indications of over-exertion are burnout, struggling, burning more rubber than going forward, but what's more important is looking for indications of people not trying hard enough. Some of those symptoms are criticizing others, disparaging externally to wallow in one's own impassiveness. In other words, if you go around telling people they are working too hard, you are exhibiting a symptom of not working hard enough yourself. People who lack diligence and self-discipline, and, thus, independent productivity, are intimidated by those with a high work ethic. If someone is "working too hard" that should be inspiring to push and motivate yourself to a higher dimension not a provocation of fear. You can evaluate the alignment of your own beliefs this way. People who work harder than others are not better and certainly not superior to those who lack work ethic, but the people who can push themselves possess more self-sufficiency and independence, and that self-reliance generates happiness.

It is only the lethargic souls and the spiritless minds that are deterred by people pushing themselves; self-discipline and people exerting themselves in productive ways is electrifying. If you watch the Olympics you could easily say those Figure skaters, ski jumpers, slalom racers, and snowboarders try way to hard, because after all the only reason why the arrived at where they are is because of trying to hard. But trying hard generates excellence. There is of course a balance. There is a japanese word wu wei, or "non-action" which is doing without doing, achieving without trying. But that takes tremendous focus and is, in a way, the highest form of "trying" because it is executing an action with such grace that it is instantaneously successful.

If you find yourself inspired by someone else's perseverance, your beliefs are independently motivated and lucidly harmonized. If you find yourself disgusted by people pushing themselves, you are programmed for failure. Olympians, top CEOs, the most prolific writers, and breakthrough architects, and the artists who create masterpieces all push themselves "too hard", while others criticized their fervent, passionate work ethic. Let's examine who's not working hard enough instead of trying to impede those who are independently charged and sincere about their work.