It’s rare that work - even joyous work - comes without some exertion, strain, or pain.

The thing to be conscious of is what type:

Are you experiencing the exertion, strain and pain of climbing a mountain? The type that comes from taking real steps in pursuit of a meaningful objective? The by-products of sweating your skills? The type that will be forgotten when you experience that joyous moment of reaching the summit?

Or are you experiencing the exertion, strain, and pain that comes from talking about climbing a mountain? Of negotiating if we all agree this is the right mountain to climb? Of waiting weeks to navigate procurement of ropes? Of pausing constantly to provide progress updates to ease the anxieties of those not even on the mountain? The type that when you get the to the summit, your only thought is, Thank god that’s over.

Joyous work isn’t always easy work. But it’s never work-about-work.