#1261 - means and ends
A means is something you do or use to achieve a result, an end.
You want something, so you do an action or use a system, a method or a tool to get what you want.
Yesterday, in one of my long walking conversations with my friend Luca, I realized that sometimes, I flip means and ends.
And that switch often becomes the source of frustrations.
Because within me, I know what I long for. My soul knows my true "end".
Yet, for many reasons, I get trapped in the means, and I convince myself that they are the end.
Sometimes it's because I fall in love with the means: it may be an activity I like or a method that fascinates me. Or it may be just something that works and gives me instant gratification stealing my gaze from the actual end.
Whatever the reason, I begin chasing the means as if they are the end.
Then frustration and guilt join the party.
And I'm not the only one. I met many people who started a job as a means and, usually because they have some success, ended up making that job their end.
I'm lucky to have friends that can help me assess my life and recognize when I'm flipping means and ends.
What about your means and ends? Do you have them in the correct order?