You know that old saw, "You working hard or hardly working?" It pays homage to the fact that the universe doesn't care about you--or anyone else really.
So what can you do; If nothing matters? I suppose it's up to you if you want to matter in this life. You could choose ease and pleasure. Who's to stop you? You get to choose right?
It'll be you because you won't feel content with yourself. You won't have felt enough hard work was done; have made enough meaning with the time you've spent; and you won't get that sense of accomplishment.
Remember, there is no meaning unless you give it meaning. And you won't feel content until you work hard in service of your values.
Working hard doesn't matter. It's not the work. It's consciously giving meaning to the effort--serving values you can cherish.
Being mindful, knowing what you value, facing the meaning crisis when it comes; allow these things to work in service of making meaning in your life.
Only then comes the hard work. The effort needed to keep meaning going in your life. That's when hard work feels right. You are making meaning with your life again.
Where are you working hard today? How is the meaning in your life shaping the hard work you do?
