The question “what are we looking after in life?” remains as question for life. We grow up, of-course under the care? (or cage!) of our parents, each and every time dependent on every single thing in life. Of Course money is what we need for our independence at that stage as it empowers us to buy what is necessary without having to “depend” on anyone and that’s what our idea of independence is when we are growing up.
Soon after completing the education we start searching for this independence through solid financial grounds and here we go... we have our long sought independence. This phase of life is most enjoyed as one starts to get the attention and respect in the eyes of the society.
So does the seeking of independence stop here. No, as the thriving for our identity starts when we find ourselves in the midst of so many successful people in the society. So we start to appease the system or oppose the system. Appease, because we want to get our work done, if not oppose because we need our presence, our independence to be exercising every moment of our life. Life seems to be in control only when we exercise our freedom of choice.
What about at the career space, we need constant monitoring else our productivity would come down. We need well defined systems and processes to keep ourselves in track. Imagine if we were to be left alone in the space without any constraints. Wow sounds utopian but left to ourselves, we do nothing. We rot; we putrefy in our own justification and judgments.
Why is that then we rebel the existing systems? Why our idea of independence thwarted. Our idea of accountability has to be hidden and packaged in rules, regulations, and constitutions. Do we ever realize that we are moving far from being independent; more we practice our version of independence?
We need to throw away our notion of our independence. Our “Independence “can be translated as un-questionability. No doubt all of us are successful and have achieved the goals that we have set, and lived by our resolutions that we take every year! If we look at the struggle and success that we have got today and have pondered why ever we wanted that success, all the fingers point to that state where we are un-questionable!
We need a good job, basically to be independent that means no one should question us for the spending that we do today. We need better life, better car, better vacations and better things in life so that no one would question us on the quality of life that we are leading.
Think again! Can that be a purpose of life? In unison I can hear the answer as NO. Then why are we rebellious, why do we protest rules, why do we resist protocols, why do we question the very own customs that we have put on ourselves for discipline.
If not, then can we own up accountability? Own things that we ought to do in this life and for this society. Be a provider in this system instead of solely leaning on the system. Create processes instead of merely following them. Do some work that would matter to our world of expertise.
Can we call it quits to the independence that we are fighting for!!
These are the initial steps that can be taken to shift our paradigm of independence and move towards accountability:
- Be with the system without challenging or questioning it out of your own logic
- Get your act together in the areas of your life that really matters to you because you ought to be accountable for your own life
- Allow others to question you and your actions, thoughts, and choices that you have made in your life without being judgmental or defensive
