Pain & Pleasure

Leadership Qualities

Most of the time, we are trying to avoid what we perceive to be painful and try what we perceive to be pleasurable. As time goes on, our perception of pain and pleasure changes.

Every decision we make, the results are either short term/long term pain or short term/long term pleasure. The decision we choose to make will depend on how we interpret pain and pleasure in our life and our past experience.

When we make a decision based on gaining pleasure or avoiding pain, it is associated with the factors like, time, emotion, logic and survival which influences them to act. 

These are the things standing in our way and preventing us from moving forward.

People know that they are motivated to avoid pain and to gain pleasure. The individual levels of motivation depend on how much pain and pleasure a person associates with achieving or not achieving their goals and dreams.

A good leader maintains equanimity in pleasure and pain. Leaders should be resilient in their actions and should not be weakened by pain. 

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

இன்னாமை இன்பம் எனக்கொளின் ஆகுந்தன்

ஒன்னார் விழையுஞ் சிறப்பு. (630)

दुख को भी सुख सदृश ही, यदि ले कोई मान ।
तो उसको उपलब्ध हो, रिपु से मानित मान ॥ (६३०)

Explanation by Scholars 

The elevation, which even his enemies will esteem, will be gained by him, who regards pain as pleasure.

ஒருவன் செயல் செய்யும்போது துன்பம் வந்தால் மனம் தளராமல் அதையே இன்பம் எனக் கொள்வான் என்றால், பகைவராலும் மதிக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு 

அவனுக்கு உண்டாகும்.