Perhaps you’ve been in this situation – not partaking in things like social situations because you’re so involved in what you’re doing you have no desire to stop.  Then you hear comments from your peers saying you work too hard.  If you ever hear such things, ignore them.

What does that even mean, to “work too hard?”  In someone else’s opinion?  In the opinion of society?  How can you even define that, what is the reference point?  The truth is, there is no one who can decide this for you, nor should you allow anyone to.  We all want different things from life, and only you can create a balance for yourself.

You cannot tell the writer not to write, the painter not to paint, the musician not to play, it is ingrained in her programming, it is what sets her free.

If you are serious about becoming proficient at something and are devoted to it as a lifelong process, you have to learn to ignore others, even if they are well-meaning.  Most will misunderstand your motivation and not know how to react except by sticking labels on you.  But, if you are serious at your craft you must learn to frequently tune out the world and focus or you’ll never reach your full potential.

If anything, work harder and push yourself more when others remark that you’re too involved in what you do.  Use their words to reinforce that you are on the path less traveled – something that is in all likelihood an appealing prospect.

I am not telling you to block everyone out, because you should certainly be connected with others – the right connections forge growth.  It doesn’t even matter if they have the same interests as you, what matters is they have a similar drive for something in life.  These are just the type of people you should look to align with, because you’ll form a symbiotic relationship where both parties will work to motivate and push each other to the next level.  Learning from others is vitally important, but you should choose who you learn from carefully.

When you find exactly what you want, that is the apex of existence – hold onto it and sacrifice to achieve it.  You may lose some relationships, but you have to let them go and instead surround yourself with those who will motivate you.

The world is exactly what we make of it, there are no rules or definitions for what it means to work too hard or be too involved with your interests, and you should never let others take time away from something you’re naturally drawn to.  Be strong, and when you discover what your internal goals are – whether they have to do with your career/profession, helping others, being a successful writer, starting a business, becoming an all-star programmer, it doesn’t matter – ensure everything you do is aligned to achieve them.  That is the only way to live without regret.

Embrace your inner drives and put your soul totally behind them. If others don’t understand then they’re not a supportive force, and you have to learn to ignore them.  I know this is not easy to do, but long term it is necessary.  Choose influences that support what you want to accomplish so you don’t reach a point where those in your life are fighting against you.

I am a big believer in the law of attraction, which states (in brief):

People’s thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of their lives, whether or not they’re aware of it. Essentially “if you really want something and truly believe it’s possible, you’ll get it”, but putting a lot of attention and thought onto something you don’t want means you’ll probably get that too.

By aligning yourself with those who are supportive, mentoring others who have equal passion, and limiting connections only to those individuals that are going to push you further and increase your focus, you’ll be on a path to your full potential.

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