The world is designed to reward disproportionately, those who are externally focused.
Whether it is in business, religion, or personal life, those who “succeed” find ways to crack the code of what their environment wants, and they offer it.
With the incentive system skewed towards external focus, it takes a healthy dose of commitment to actually pay attention to internal nudges. There is no short-term incentive for it. Those who pay attention to what their being gravitates towards, do so by starving themselves off the prevalent incentives.
Why do they bother? It comes down to meaning.
In the short run, everything looks equally important, and it seems too many alternatives are forgone for every choice made. Making the choice that brings the highest reward becomes a priority. Unfortunately, rewards are just needle points of happiness hormones (mainly dopamine). The joy they bring cannot be sustained. You always need more.
In the long run, nothing looks that important. Any choice made is the choice required. Making a choice that aligns to your innate ability is the priority. Innate abilities are plains of well-being hormones (mainly serotonin). The joy they bring is sustained. You can have enough.
There is no end to becoming (external focus), but being is its own end (internal focus).
Be aware as you make choices that move you forward.
– Osasu Oviawe