I feel like a lot of my life is structured in terms of punishments and rewards.
Like if I have to read an article for school, then I think, “I’ll read this article, then reward myself with watching an episode of a show next”. I know it’s a motivation tactic, but I just thought the other day, what if it wasn’t like that?
What if I just did things I had to do, because I had to do them, and didn’t think of them as punishments? Or necessary of rewards? What if I gave myself things because I loved myself, not because I’ve done well the semester? What if I spent time with loved ones, not because they’ve been good, but because I love them?
It’s extreme examples, but it really made me think about my life and how I’ve been living.
Can’t I just do things to do them? To enjoy them just to enjoy them, instead of to offput something else?
Does it cheapen the good things to weigh them against the bad?
Perhaps a new new years resolution will be to stop thinking of my life in terms of punishments and rewards and instead in experiences, happiness, and work. Because work isn’t that bad, you gotta do it, so do it. But life isn’t just about work and happiness, life is a pile of good and bad things, and, I think, things that just are things you do (brushing your teeth). And they can just be that.