“Duty is seldom sweet. It is only when love greases its wheels that it runs smoothly; it is continuous friction otherwise.”
— Swami Vivekananda
Can you do your duty as a parent if you don’t love your child? Can you do your duty as an author if you don’t love writing? Can you make an impact an impact in your career if you don’t love what you do?
Love doesn’t mean craving for the object of your desire or feeling anguished when you don’t get what you want. Nor does it mean changing yourself to suit others’ desires. Love means to accept someone for who they are, strengths, flaws, and all. Then you can do your duty without ulterior motives—of your child doing what you want, your book becoming a bestseller, or your work bringing you money and recognition. (All that happening would be great, but external goals should not dictate your effort.)
You can love when you let go of expectations, when you accept people and situations as they are rather than as you want them to be. Then, external forces can no longer decide how you feel. Such love doesn’t just help the receiver; it also uplifts the giver.