Action for the sake of doing

Namaste,

This afternoon I contemplated the act of performing a task; the act of work - be it a trivial task or a means to an end such as washing dishes or painting a picture. What led me to contemplate on this subject is a yogic statement that I've been mulling over for some time. This is acting without attachment to a reward, without pursuit of an outcome. How often do we partake into an action for the sake of doing this task? How often do we give because we want to receive? This makes our actions conditional and untrue to our selves. It is dishonest and passive agressive.
The concept goes on to say that when we work, we must work to our fullest potential for we are exercising a mental effort that is particular to our human constitution. In other words, we have the gift of reason and so, we have the capacity to perform a task at the highest level. To complete a task half-witted, we reduce our existence to sub-human level and in short, by performing a task that we absolutely have to with a lazy stance, with anger in hearts, with frustration, greed, then we undermine our own happiness. Rather, perform the task with your utmost effort, without expectation to receive any reward, but because one lives to work not works to live. This attitude will cultivate seeds of perseverance and strengthen ones charitable character, it will humble the doer.

This is easier said then done obviously. When we are tired from a hard days work and must tend to household duties, it is difficult to feel joy when sweeping the floor, or be elated by washing dishes. However, if we choose to shift our perspective, look to the dullness from a different angle where the task at hand is an opportunity to overcome laziness and an opportunity to embrace work, we feel better about the action. It is a shift in thinking. I watch my teenage niece shuffle her feet when she is asked to help around the house. It is like pulling nails to get her to dust, wash dishes, and tidy up.  A yogi embraces the work and will do it to the best of her ability, without complaint, but with love because he has been given the opportunity to help and contribute.

Again, a task that we are to do, we have two choices: One choice is to smile and do it, conjure joy from it, or the opposite. It is our choice how we view our responsibilities. And if we claim to want happiness then it seems that the first choice aligns better.

Namaste.