differentiating hunger from thirst

We need both food and water for survival. Fulfilling either hunger or thirst exclusively won’t make the cut. 

And the same applies to our professional pursuits as well. We’re all encouraged to participate in the hustle. But the reality is that most of us are like a hamster on the wheel; we’re doing the everyday motions but not progressing anywhere significant. We don’t have a mission and a vision to guide us. We may be lauded for our efforts and the results that they bring, but the key question that we must ask ourselves is: Are they bringing us satisfaction and joy, and the genuine feeling of being successful?

Instead of being “normal” and going with the herd, it’s best to choose the path of conscious hustle i.e. to hustle with intention, with meaning, with clarity about where we want to go and who we want to become. We must have a compelling vision otherwise, as the Proverbs instructs, we will perish. 

It’s best to fill the void within each of us and fulfill our human needs by doing things that are meaningful to us and that align with our values, passions, and goals. Otherwise, we’re not showing up and providing our highest contributions to the world. 

As Seth Godin beautifully explains in his blog, “Our culture of corporate consumption tries to persuade us that being hungry is all we need. Hungry to earn more, buy more, save more, spend more. It celebrates the hustler who doesn’t know how to stop, asserting that this person is getting all the fancy prizes because they’re contributing so much. Status is awarded to the unsated hungry person. But they might still be thirsty. Thirsty for meaning and connection. Thirsty for the satisfaction of creating beauty. More hustle won’t satisfy those needs.”

If we want to survive and thrive in today’s world, we have to stop confusing between hunger and thirst, and start living a life where we satisfy both of them.