Have you ever found yourself in state dependent activity?

I've spent so many years working under stress — whether at school, a big music project, or a tech company. It's often felt that stress is a prerequisite to success.

I prefer the ideal of easeful work — work that flows, some pressure here and there but not enough to lead to short or long term burnout. I've worked jobs putting in many more hours than were necessary for the work. The Western Puritanical idealist may smile on that work ethic, but I'm coming to see the benefits to myself and others as marginal.

I am learning to do enough work to keep me and my clients happy. If I don't do any work, I feel like a thief — it actually hurts my sense of self, a blow to my integrity. Working too much exhausts me and makes me feel resentful of the work I'm doing. So there's a balance to be struck here.

Agreement #4 from the Four Agreements — do your best. Not more, not less.