Complacency or contentment?

While I was serving with the Indian Air Force, many a time the working schedule used to be quite hectic. Because of regular military exercises, periodic inspections, and technical breakdowns, there was hardly any time for the family or myself. Till the time the task was accomplished, I used to be overly occupied with that, mentally as well as physically. And during those periods I used to live in a serious mood. When I look back now, more than anything else, I think the sense of responsibility was the sole driving force.

In pursuit of freedom, I chose early retirement. Post-retirement, I have complete freedom to explore all facets of life, and that too at my own pace. These days I am doing nothing. Actually, to be fair, most of the time I do nothing. Hence, much of my time goes into reading. By nature, I am a lazy person. Sometimes, I write in bits and pieces. Even if I have to write an article or a blog, unless the calling comes from within I rarely start.

I have no ambition. I have no desire. I have no goals to achieve.

At times, I wonder whether this is complacency or contentment.

We as human beings, always want to achieve something. We have some goals set for ourselves and we want to accomplish them. We call these ambitions. In pursuit of these ambitions, we all work hard.

Why do we all work hard to achieve something?

Some of the common reasons are:-

1. Want to prove that I am the best

2. Want to prove I am better than the peer or colleague

3. Want to prove that I too can do this

4. With an eye on promotion

5. For that higher package

6. For that yearly award

7. Out of a sense of responsibility

8. For self-satisfaction

9. For self-respect

10. To learn

11. To experience and explore

12. To enjoy

There are very few who work hard for the last three. And when they do, then it doesn’t become hard work, it becomes a lifelong passion and they start loving it.

There is nothing wrong with working hard. But how far? How long? How much? And most importantly for what? One must have a perfect reason for working hard. I have seen many who have achieved more than what they deserve. But still, they have not stopped. They are still going on and on and on. They are unable to stop because they have not realized the true meaning of achievement.

By definition, complacency means a feeling of calm satisfaction with your abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder.

If I presume I am complacent then that means I am satisfied but I am not trying harder. But what is that I should try hard for? Is there anything worth trying hard for?

One tries harder to achieve something. One tries harder to achieve desires and ambitions. One tries harder to seek a better job, higher designation, a fatter package, more money, a powerful position, respect, fame, and the list goes on.

I have no ambition. I have no goals to achieve. I have no desire.

Osho said, “The very idea of achievement is ambition. All achievements are the projection of the ego. There is no goal to achieve. There is no purpose in life. Life itself is purpose.”

Then, why try harder? For what? Just for societal approval?

So, I think it is not about complacency.

And, by definition, contentment means happiness and satisfaction, often because you have everything you need.

Do I have everything that I need? And the answer is absolutely YES.

I think this is perfectly logical. I have everything that I need. Hence, I am happy and satisfied. So, contentment describes my state more perfectly than complacency.

And for most of us, this is true. Most of us have everything that we need, rather more than what we need. Still, many are not content. It is because they are confused between complacency and contentment. They think that doing hard work all the time is the correct approach towards life. This is a false belief. A wrong narrative driven and evolved through societal approval. Which we do not wish to break.

Complacency is a myth, contentment is the absolute truth.

Warren Buffet said, “I really like my life. I’ve arranged my life so that I can do what I want.”

How true?