Don't Forget to Work Hard

There is an age-old saying — 'No pains, no gains.' No task can be accomplished without working hard. 'Working hard' means utilizing utmost potential and vigour while executing any task. It is an indispensable virtue. As air, water and food are indispensable for life, so is striving to lead a contented life. Striving hard keeps the spirit of living high and prevents negative traits like worries, disappointment and low self-esteem.

Here is an anecdote regarding the role of rest and work in life. Once in a forest came a young lad and a group of woodcutters to cut down trees. The young lad was a very hard worker and worked for long hours nonstop. On the other hand, the aged group of woodcutters worked for some time then took a break. They talked, laughed and rested. As days passed by the young lad realized that the wood being cut down by them was far more than he did, though he did not waste time or take breaks. A wise old man smiled and said, "Child you are a hard worker. You chop down trees daily tirelessly but the outcome is not in proportion because you haven't sharpened your axe for a long time." The wise old man further advised: "Work whole heartedly but keep analyzing your work time and again to overcome your shortcomings, think new ideas, refine your work through your experience and develop your own tact and skills. Only then can you finish your work and get free time for other chores."

Colin Powell has rightly said — "A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."

The founder of Yug Nirman Mission, our revered Gurudev, while addressing the volunteers at Shantikunj always stressed that out of twenty-four hours, eight hours be spent for earning livelihood, five hours for household chores, seven hours for rest and the remaining four hours for developing one's talents and skills. In this way he taught that along with work, rest is also essential and developing skills is indispensable. Tasks performed through skilled hands are far more valuable than those by unskilled ones.

Avoiding work gives only negativity, sickness and poor life to repent and cry over. But a hard worker is happy, contented and progressive. Simply by channelizing one's work through one's experience, life becomes a bliss and work a pleasure.