Who enjoys the fruits of your labour? Do You?
The question may appear naive at the first glance. Before you read on, reflect upon the question for a while. Arriving at a forthright answer may be perplexing. Before we delve further, let's have a clear understanding of the word “Enjoy”. The prefix “en” in the word “enjoy” means to “make someone or something be in a particular state or have a particular quality” [1]. Implying enjoy means to have joy. What is joy then? Robbins [2] stated that “Joy is a pleasant and often quite intense emotion which usually occurs within a safe and secure environment and is experienced bodily as a warm glow which emerges from the centre of the body and moves upward and outward”. Aristotle (384 BC–322 BC) distinguished two forms of happiness: hedonia and eudaimonia. Hedonia refers to pleasure derived from the gratification of needs, whereas eudaimonia refers to the pursuit of self-realisation and the meaningful life (Deci & Ryan, 2008; Waterman, 1993). Enjoyment is most closely associated with the hedonic conception of happiness.
At its most general (macro) level, it is a positive affective state that occurs when a person engages in an experience that satisfies a desire, goal, or need. At a micro level, it is the enjoyment of engaging in a concrete task or activity.
The concept of enjoyment is related to, but distinct from, quality of life, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness. So what are the fruits of labour that need to be enjoyed?
The fruits of labour are the sweetest of all pleasures [3] The fruits can be many. From the perspective of enjoyment as discussed above, the fruit needs to be savoured, as a psychological process [4]. This is done in three parts
- Savouring the future, also referred to as anticipation.
- Savouring the present or savouring the moment.
- Savouring the past, also known as reminiscence.
Compared to levels of enjoyment experienced in the moment, people often report greater enjoyment in anticipation of a pleasant experience (“rosy prospection”) and after the experience is over ( “rosy retrospection”). Savouring is more likely to occur when a person is free of worries, esteem concerns, and distractions. In addition, experiences that last longer provide more opportunities for savouring. With this backdrop, following fruits of labour are appropriate candidates for enjoyment.
- Accumulated wealth.
- Victory, success, achievement.
- Metaphysical, extra sensory, spiritual.
Accumulated wealth
Wealth passed down the generation to you can be used for enjoyment. But strictly speaking, that wealth is not a fruit of your labour. Wealth creation for an average or common man is a lifelong process. During this process, wealth creation using financial instruments requires capital which is often found by cutting costs and meeting only mandatory obligations of raising a family. By the time wealth accumulates, the hard times of denial experienced in the process, often discourage you from using up the wealth to experience enjoyment like an expensive foreign trip. One may argue that why accumulate? Use the money as soon as you have enough to enjoy its fruit. One may like to ponder over the practicality of this option.
Victory, success, achievement.
Colonel Slogging Hard got nominated for the Higher Command course. He surely enjoyed the fruits of his labour when the course went abroad on an educational tour. Similarly do successful corporate employees enjoy benefits showered upon them in recognition of their industry. Tournament champions, competition medalists, election victors, scholarship awardees do get to eat the fruits of their labour. For the few at the pinnacle, reaching is easier than staying there. But yes as long as one is there, one does savour the fruits of his labour. And often there is a battery of mentors preparing the victor. Those mentors who labour hard on the mentee, mostly enjoy the success vicariously.
Metaphysical, extra sensory, spiritual.
Not falling in the strict construct of enjoyment derived above, the fruits of spiritual labour can only be enjoyed by the practitioner, in the confines of his inner being. There is no savouring involved here - one may continue to enjoy the achievements in the metaphysical world for life.
Conclusion
Barring the fruits of labour, which come as success in some form to a handful of achievers , answer to the question who enjoys the fruits of your labour has confounded many thinkers. You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours. [Bible: Psalm 128:2]. The Holy Bible and many other scriptures postulate the foregoing, eating the fruit is not necessarily equivalent to enjoying. It may appear that you, the labourer, do actually not get to enjoy the fruits. That is such a waste ! It may be someone else, like your progeny, whom you bequeath the fruits to, leaving the enjoyment to their wisdom.
Chat GPT Article on the same subject
As a human being, one of the most satisfying things in life is to witness the fruits of your labour. Whether it’s the completion of a project, the achievement of a goal, a successful relationship, a profitable business, or any other type of personal accomplishment, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of satisfaction that comes from seeing your hard work pay off. However, the question remains: who actually enjoys the fruits of your labour? At its core, the answer to this question depends on what your labour is and who it’s intended for. For example, if you’re a farmer, the fruits of your labour may be the crops that you grow, which can benefit many people including yourself, your family, your community, and even people beyond your borders. On the other hand, if you’re an artist, the fruits of your labour may be in the form of a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, or any other creative piece that expresses your ideas and emotions, and can be enjoyed by those who appreciate art. In general, those who enjoy the fruits of your labour may include:
You : Perhaps one of the most obvious and immediate beneficiaries of your labour is yourself. When you work hard and create something that you’re proud of, it brings you a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that no one else can replicate. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate your personal achievements, and to give yourself credit for the hard work that you’ve put in.
Your family and loved ones : Often, the people closest to you are the ones who can truly appreciate the fruits of your labour. This may include your spouse, children, parents, siblings, or close friends. They may have supported you throughout the process, provided feedback and encouragement, or simply shared in your excitement when you achieved your goal. When your hard work pays off, it can also benefit them in more tangible ways, such as a higher income, a nicer home, or even a more positive attitude.
*Your customers/clients *: If you’re running a business or providing a service, the fruits of your labour may be in the form of satisfied customers or clients. When you deliver high-quality products or services that meet their needs and exceed their expectations, they’re more likely to return to you in the future and recommend your business to others. This can increase your profitability and enhance your reputation, ultimately leading to more success and growth.
Your community/society : Depending on what you’re doing, the fruits of your labour may also have a broader impact on the world around you. For example, if you’re an environmental activist working to reduce pollution and promote sustainability, your efforts may benefit your local community, your country, or even the planet as a whole. Similarly, if you’re a teacher, your labour may shape the minds and futures of countless students, who will go on to make their own contributions to society.
The world at large : Finally, it’s worth remembering that the fruits of your labour may have an impact beyond your immediate surroundings or circumstances. In some cases, your work may inspire others to pursue their own goals, or to create positive change in the world. Your contributions may be long-lasting and far-reaching, even if you never see the full extent of their impact.
In conclusion, the answer to the question of who enjoys the fruits of your labour is complex and multifaceted. While you are undoubtedly the primary beneficiary of your hard work, the people around you can also benefit in a variety of ways, as can the wider world. Ultimately, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the value of your labour, both for yourself and for those who are impacted by it.
