“If you can invariably take the position of a giver, in which everything given by you is a free offering to the world, without any thought of return, then will your work bring you no attachment. Attachment comes only when we expect a return.”
— Swami Vivekananda
During the Mahabharata war, the Kauravas brutally killed Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu, and the main perpetrator was Jayadrata. Upon hearing this, Arjuna vowed to defeat Jayadrata before sunset, and that if he couldn’t do so, he would retire from the kingdom forever.
Lord Krishna, his charioteer, said, “Oh Arjuna, you can surely defeat Jayadrata. But by taking this vow, you have distracted yourself from the primary goal [to defeat him]. Now, your focus will be on the sunset and the subconscious fear of retirement if you fail to achieve your goal.”
If you’re not careful, your desires and emotions will decide the direction of your life. The obsession of getting promoted, buying a bigger house, and getting more Instagram likes can — and will — sabotage the noble reasons why you began pursuing your goal.
Before you work on a task, ask yourself: What are my reasons for doing it? Am I in control here or my desires are?
Make your work a means to give without the expectation of a return. The role of work is not to get money or fame; it is to help you evolve as a person.