My country’s former prime minister turned 100 years old a few days ago. His name is Mahathir Mohamad.
Just a few years back he had been re-elected as the new prime minister of Malaysia from 2018 to 2020, at the ripe age of 93 years old. He is also the country’s longest-serving prime minister with a total of 24 years in office, and some regard him as the father of modern Malaysia.
In his birthday interview, he shared that he did not feel like resting, that his mind and body are still active and involved in ‘work’, even at 100 years old.
Although he is a controversial public figure from his long history of over 70 years being in the country’s politics, one aspect of him intrigued me, and I think it’s an admiration of his will and mental clarity even up to his old age.
For some people, the term for rest can be lazing around, basically doing anything of leisure, sleeping, staying home watching TV, going for massages, generally not the most productive lifestyle. Time passes on without anything particularly new. This may be retirement for some.
For others, they find joy and purpose in working, and they do not seem to tire of their pursuit of their work. They are motivated, driven, and may appear even happier than others.
Why the differences?
Those who keep on working may be doing something that they genuinely enjoy and are interested in, and hence are more inclined to be personally motivated to see progress.
Now I’m in my thirties, and am nowhere near retirement, but I have many days where I am really tired out at the grind of work. Although I am the type who is motivated by making contributions and seeing progress in the area I’m working in, it is not the same as those who are clearly more invested in their work.
It may be working for a non-profit organization, a start-up business, being a director of a larger company, or a school teacher who sees progress in her students. If they are driven by their work, it shows and those around them tend to pick up on it.
So, what are some things I take away from their attitudes towards work and life in general?
- Pursue Self-Improvement
Our day-to-day is are opportunities for growth. Since we have limited time, and we have only one life, growing and investing in ourselves makes us more capable of influencing the things around us. Be it in our families, our work, or our society. We may be able to help solve more problems, or make a bigger dent in needed changes and progress.
We become better, and others will listen if you have things to say that are of worth and are valid.
New language learning, acquiring new skills such as cooking or music, or getting better at programming or design drafting. Skills that can be used for your personal self-growth and become an asset to yourself.
2. Think Long-term
EVen i myself sometimes forget that the situation I may be in in my life now may be temporary. We forget to plan ahead, and may miss some steps along the way.
I recently changed my career path, because I knew I wanted to be involved in other fields of specialty in the future, after being in the circle of my current role for a decade. Even though I had climbed the career ladder at my work and further job promotions were potentially available where I was, it was not enough for me to stay.
It will be challenging during the initial months after the role change, as I need to learn up new skills and will be placed in a new environment, but do I regret it?
No, not yet, at least, but I am willing to take up the challenge and find my way.
3. Do What Motivates You
This is one of the key aspects, as we will naturally be driven to work at something that we believe in to be worth doing, in your area of interest, or that contributes to what you hold close to in your heart. Social work, entrepreneurship, inventing, innovating, care-giving, or even writing.
As Dolly Parton once quoted, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose”, it encourages us to avoid just drifting by in life and living day to day without purpose, routines on repeat. Intentional living is much better, and helps us make decisions to steer us in the right direction.
So if you don’t want stagnancy and a dull life, you will need to find your interests, and your mind and body will shift gears to a faster pace. It’s a potential cure to your restlessness if you have been feeling any.
You may even live longer, since you are fulfilled and are more inclined to stay healthy in order to continue contributing and working at your cause.