Dear PiePie,
I came across this word – autotelic – recently. It is an adjective that describes an activity that has an end or purpose in itself.
I thought that’s an important quality in the dreams that you pursue. Is it autotelic? In the pursuit of that dream, is the pursuit itself also an end and purpose? It’s a lot easier to sustain the pursuit of the dream if the milestones and checkpoints along the way, the pursuit, is meaningful to you.
That the trying and the having tried, regardless of the outcome, are worthwhile, is something I feel many forget about. It’s apparent in hindsight and most appreciate the path then, but by gosh it is tough to be grateful about the grind while you’re in the midst of it.
So if you’re feeling tired about the grind towards a goal – and truthfully, most goals have a price to pay – perhaps reframing how you think about the path you are taking towards that goal will sustain you more.
To quote Robert Pirsig, “It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top.” I’m rooting for you on your journey.
Love, Dad