Hakuna Matata
In my last few months of college, I spent a lot of time talking to a group of friends about what was happening next in our lives. Overall, it was a sense of impending doom. We had recently finished six months of full-time work internships, our first taste of real-world work, and the experience had not been good. Endless, dull days at work with not much to do, but still having to play the part, getting there on time, dressing appropriately, and acting very differently than we acted when it was just a group of college students.
We talked about how we were going to start work and get sucked into "the system," the mindless herd of people that just followed the work routine so they could get the money they already owed on house or car payments or whatever noose they had managed to put around their own necks—no freedom to choose what to do on any given day. Show up to work every day on time, stay until the end of the day, and you only get 15 days of paid vacation per year. Yeah, doom was upon us. The fun and freedom were over.
One of my friends even sent me this video:
(Optional to watch it. Not critical)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9dZQelULDk
Terrifying.
It has been eight years since I graduated from college and started work, and it's interesting to see all of the things I didn't understand back then.
I'll try to explain through a story and pretend I'm talking to myself from 8 years ago.
I recently went to see the Broadway performance of the Lion King, and I think it's a good lens to use to approach the problem I faced as I was finishing college.
In the story, Simba escapes his world after his uncle blames him for his father's death. He meets Timon and Pumba, and they teach him their way of life. Hakuna Matata. A philosophy of no worries. They spend years playing in the jungle, taking naps, and eating the bugs they can easily find. He's a college kid.
In the meantime, Simba's home is under the control of Scar. Scar has enslaved the females, and he and his hyenas have ruined the balance and order that Simba's father maintained for all of the animals. He has brought pain and suffering to Simba's former world.
When Nala fortuitously runs into Simba, she is happy to see her friend, who she thought to be dead, and initially, it is all hugs and happiness. Later, when Simba tries to explain the Hakuna Matata philosophy under which he lives, she expresses a disappointment that Simba cannot understand.
From her point of view, Simba is a fully grown lion, the only one strong enough to defeat Scar, bring back order and balance, and end the suffering they have been living in. It is unbelievable that he doesn't step up.
From his point of view, he owns his life and shouldn't be asked to sacrifice his freedom.
Finally, through the help of Rafiki and visions of his father, Simba understands that he has been living a meaningless life. It shouldn't all be about satisfying your desires. Meaning comes from doing your job, assuming responsibility, and lessening the suffering of others. Simba then takes his role, defeats Scar, and restores balance in the world.
As a college student, the Hakuna Matata life seemed so appealing. And the loss of freedom was our biggest fear. But when you get older, you start to question if there is any meaning in that freedom. Is life just about doing what pleases you? Is it all about getting the dopamine rush of food, drink, orgasm, and new experiences? Is it all about doing the things that squirt the right chemicals in your brain to make you feel good?
As I started my work life, I was lucky enough to be given many responsibilities early on. And this is what changed the game for me. Different from my internship, people depended on me. At that point, it's not about what time you get there, what time you leave, or how many vacation days you have. It's about a load that has to be lifted. And you are the one who chose to lift it. Not only that, but you have told other people, so now they are counting on you to lift that load. That is where you find meaning. Perhaps it is better explained by Jordan Peterson in the following video:
(Optional to watch it. Not critical)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QctT0Oc_uQQ
You find meaning in the unsexy routine of getting up early every day and doing your job because people are counting on you and because when you do it, you bring a little more order and balance to the world. You help lessen the pain and suffering of others.
When I see my friends today, I am proud to see how much we have grown and how we have come to understand our roles. I am the proudest of those who have committed to responsibilities that are unsexy and sometimes boring. There is a tradeoff between freedom and being dependable, but you have to be responsible if you want to build things with others, and building with others is where you will find meaning.
We are lions, and the world is full of problems that need lions. It is full of loads that need lifting. It is full of suffering that can be reduced. Nothing is more disappointing than a lion on the sidelines singing Hakuna Matata while the whole world burns.
I would say to my college self, having all the time in the world gets old. Partying gets old. Having your days all to yourself gets old. If you want to find meaning, commit to lifting a load, and be someone other people count on.
