How to do something we don’t like?

Oh! That overwhelming feeling when you have to do something that you just don’t want to do!

However hard we may try to avoid, there will be such situations. For example, having to attend the wedding of some auntie’s daughter just because our mummy wants it, and we can’t hate it more. Or having to finish an assignment which belongs to our boss, only because he wants us to do it and we don’t want to hamper our impression with him.

And we somehow force ourselves to do it, but are never able to do it happily.

And you know what happens then? We end up in the wedding looking like a git. People come across and look at us. And they would stare at our donkey face. The questioning look on their face says, “Dude, why did you even bother to come to this wedding if you cannot smile at all?”

And that boils our blood. “Exactly my point,” we feel like telling them, “See I never wanted to come. I have been forced...”

But that never happens. They never know that we are doing what we didn’t want to do in the first place. But they would always remember us as the one big flop-show who turns up always with a geek face. Bah! We’ve lost our impression forever. This actually happens in all the cases.

I will give one example. My boss asked me to make a presentation on my ideas regarding something of which I had no idea at all! This is because it was something not related to my field. I mean, come on, I am a CA – I obviously cannot be expected to know the processes related to milling of agricultural grains in India. It was like asking Sachin Tendulkar to make a presentation on the pros and cons of RBI’s economic policies!

Simply speaking, I didn’t want to do it. Nevertheless, I convinced myself that I must. After all, where is the harm in trying new things in life? So I went to this pulses mill. I was such a novice in the place that I could not distinguish between Toor Dal and Chana Dal. I remember the vendors laughing at me when I questioned them innocently.

Yeah, it was the same kind of sadistic laugh that people throw at you when you end up in the auntie’s daughter’s wedding having no clue about who’s the bride or groom!

That day, I asked myself one simple question – how to do things we don’t want to do? So I started thinking, and I came out with 3 possible solutions. I am putting across the same:

Treat yourself with something you like, for doing something you didn’t like.

There were times I used to literally hate attending classes. Getting up on a Sunday and going long distance to that place was such a repellent. However, close to that coaching centre was a sweet shop, and I love sweets. So I used to treat myself with a favourite Ras-Malai if I could sustain it.

There could be wonderful incentives in everything. Imagine the happiness in looking at pretty girls dressed up in beautiful traditional outfits when we go to the auntie’s daughter’s wedding (you’re not supposed to say this to my auntie :p) Or imagine if we can treat ourselves for a favourite movie if we achieve a target our boss has told us to do. Arrange a pizza treat for finishing off all the unnecessary and unwanted things in life!

The crux of the matter remains simple. We cannot work for an incentive that we don’t want to have. But we can always attach these little incentives to those cumbersome tasks. If not much, this can add a little spice to the otherwise boring lives.

Do these things, and add it to your “Bargaining-Power List”

You did something you didn’t want. Now, someone might help you to do things that you want, but you can’t. It’s like the concept of divine help. Imagine yourself telling God, “Listen I am doing this even though I don’t want to. Now, this one is due on you. It is now your responsibility in return to help me with something that I want to do”

If you say it like that, it might mean we’re getting into philosophy. But of course not! Here is how it works practically: My boss is more likely to do what I want if I do what he wants. Isn’t it? Well, there are other examples. You mummy is more likely to get you a new bike if you listened to her when she wanted you to attend the wedding.

Simply speaking, sometimes having to do these unwanted tasks might just be a part of God’s bigger plan to get you something that you actually liked. That sounds motivating, doesn’t it?

Oh come on, just do it and get it over with!

Sometimes we are genuinely concerned about this situation. But at other times, we know we are exaggerating it a lot. I mean, it is okay! Just do it and finish it off. We should not prop up those hi-fi arguments to our aid always.

There have been many occasions where we have not done things that we wanted. Just because we preferred to be where we are. There have been many occasions where others have done things that we wanted them to do. There is no point in being the cry baby. This is not an idealistic life always.

And if it has to be done, we will have to do it anyways. There is no point procrastinating it. So, the simple and final solution is – to just do it. It is like closing our eyes and gulping down the medicine we don’t like, because it is necessary. In fact, the sooner we finish it off, the better we feel. J

As consistent with the theme of my blog, I always believe that our happiness lies in our hands. There might be situations caused by worldly pressures where we are forced to do what we don’t like. But still, we can be happy – by using the power within!

May everyone live a happy and peaceful life! May everyone keep on smiling!

Cheers!

Palkesh