“All work is simply to bring out the power of the mind which is already there, to wake up the soul. The power is inside every man, so is knowing; the different works are like blows to bring them out, to cause these giants to wake up.”
– Swami Vivekananda
Svādhyāya means two things: studying by oneself as well as the study of oneself. The former occurs when you deep-dive into a subject and pace your learning; the latter occurs through yoga āsanas, prānāyāma (breathing techniques), meditation, bhakti (devotion), and karma yoga: working without obsessing over the outcome.
When we work out of compulsion or attachment, it fuels the ego. We expect results to go our way and people to appreciate us, we want the best without caring about the price to pay, which is often huge.
But working without attachment to results fuels the soul. You can give a task your best, and once it’s complete, focus on the next one. You are gracious even when the outcome is not in your favor. You can say no to things that pull you away from what’s important without feeling guilty. In the process, you learn more about the world and yourself.
Here’s the truth: You will be forgotten when you leave, whether it’s a job, a relationship, or life overall. Let that thought liberate you. Work doesn’t have to be an obligation. It’s an opportunity to grow, to move away from addictions, depression, and identity crises, and closer to happiness and fulfillment.