Reflections

I've been in a constant mode of reflection that last few days. There's an opening for a promotion. I'm not sure I really want it. Pay increase isn't much and the work requires a lot of effort, but its considered a stepping stone to the next position up the ladder.

My knee-jerk reaction was to apply for it. Upon further reflection, I came to doubt the intentions of my decision. Did I really want it? Or do I want it because that's what's expected of everyone? You know. Everybody wants to move up the food chain so everyone should want to get a promotion. It's the rational mindset to have.

Aristotle once suggested that everything that we do, everything we deem important enough to spend time doing, is for the greater good. He gave that greater good a name -- happiness. Come to think of it, he's right. All that we do is in the pursuit of happiness. There is a catch, though. What's called the hedonistic paradox. Happiness eludes the person who pursues it. The only way to achieve happiness, Aristotle furthers, is to fulfill, realize and develop all of one's talents and potentialities.

So the question arises, will I be happy if I go for the promotion? The position does afford me an opportunity to develop myself further. But it will take away a chunk my personal time. I will have less time and energy to spend with my family. And I might not even hack it. Management gives successful applicants 6 months to prove their worth. Otherwise, they will be relegated back to their old positions.

I must reflect some more... I think it was Sun-Tzu who said, "the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought." I need more introspective moments...