New to Me

You may know these words and the distinction between them. I did not. But both the words and the distinction between them are significant.

The words are “telic” and “atelic”.

Oliver Burkeman describes them as used by philosopher Kieran Setiya. “Telic” has to do with something that has a particular purpose or end (telos). “Atelic” has to do with something that is an end in itself or has no other end to which it is pointed. Telic is more connected to the word pursuit; atelic is more connect to the word hobby.

For example, weight lifting is telic. Its purpose is to get stronger for some other purpose, activity or end. A hike in the woods is atelic. It has no other end than to hike in the woods.

Burkeman’s point in his 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals is that our lives and our time should not all be driven by telic pursuits. Everything we do should not be driven toward some other end (telic). Such a life becomes burdensome, joyless and frustrating. If we are always driven to accomplish something with all our activities, we will always be driven to accomplish more… and be left unsatisfied.

Instead, our lives should have atelic activities; we should have some activities in our life that are done just for the experience itself. No accomplishment. No recognition. No reward. Joy is in the doing.

Here’s the thing. Too often we take what are rightfully atelic activities and turn them into telic activities, something they are not, and cause ourselves unnecessary frustration, disappointment and even anger.

This past week this distinction not only hit home but brought liberation. There are two activities I have been “doing for fun” that often have not been fun. I like to golf. I like to play the tuba. I am not great at either of them and have found progress to be slower than I would have liked. So indeed both have bred frustration, disappointment and even anger. What should have been atelic activities had become telic, more like pursuits than like hobbies.

Not anymore. I will do them to do them. There is no higher goal or end. No more worrying about breaking 100 for 18 holes. No more dreams (delusions) of playing in a bar band on a Friday night. Those things may in fact come, but they are no longer the point.

This is not giving up. This is being set free to enjoy such things as ends in themselves.

There are many things we do to accomplish something else. But there are some things to be done simply for the sake of doing them. A healthy balance between the two is… healthy.

There is summer left. Find some time to reflect on your activities. Which are telic and which are atelic? Are there some atelic activities that you have made telic and spoiled the joy? Are there enough atelic activities in your life to keep you refreshed?

NOTE: Of course this concept is not disconnected from the Biblical ideas of Sabbath and worship.