Oftentimes I hear people talk about the science of something or the art of something and I wonder which is which or what is what really? Are they different or can they be used interchangeably? Wallace Wattles wrote a book, 'The Science of Getting Rich'. Vusi Thembekwayo talks about maintaining art in business and the possibility of losing art in order to build to scale.
The crux here is: Can we refer to Wallace's book as the Art of Getting Rich and it would still mean the same thing? Or can we change Vusi's statement to losing science instead of art in order to scale a business and still communicate the same idea?
This is the idea behind this post. Perhaps, a bit of an exploration of the concepts or ideas should give us a great perspective and understanding?
What is art? When can a concept be referred to as an art? Art is beauty. Art is fulfillment. You can be happy with yourself. You can be happy with your life because you have deliberately made it beautiful through self-discovery. You can be fulfilled about what you do even if you have not made phenomenal or financial success at it. If maintaining art is what drives you, you are not initially bothered about scaling in order to attract plenty of money because this may mean that you lose art, you lose the satisfaction of what drives you and that is personal fulfillment with the beauty you have created. You just seek to maintain it.
What is science? When can an idea be referred to as a science? Science is ordered by subscribing to specific rules. The universe is ruled by science of nature. The health, wealth, abundance and the like are ordered by specific laws. If you altar the laws of healthy living by abusing substances, you are going to pay for it. If you are going to be successful in any business endeavour, you have to follow specific rules but you can also have those successes and not be fulfilled. In the real estate business for example, the expectation is that after purchase, the value shores up. This is almost true for all time. Though the growth percentage may not be predictable, there is often the likelihood that that there will be a definite increase all other things being equal.
Can art and science be used interchangeably? My answer is no. Science is science because it follows specific rules but art is not subject to this principle. Nothing is cast in stone with art. There are no predetermined rules. Each person has to find own way to it. Truly enduring principles of life are arrived at this way. Stoics get to their stronghold of value with their own personal experiences where they eventually find fulfillment and get comfortable in their own skin. How they got there is their own personal experience because it is your personal journey. It is unique to them.
Fulfillment is realisation. Fulfillment is enjoyed beyond sensual happiness. Fulfillment is earned through maintaining art. It is the ability to maintain art: that secret thing that makes you feel great within you. Science may give you abundance because you followed some specific rules to the letter to achieve success in a certain area of life but you can still be empty though you are successful. For this reason, it is expedient for each person to have their own definition of success.
You can be successful in your chosen field and still not be happy. You can make the money you set out to make and still obsess over things that many who do not have the possessions and money you have, have. Truth be told, money does not guarantee your fulfillment. You may be happy but you lack joy because something is missing yet.
Sure, joy is completely different from happiness. Joy and Happiness are emotions, but I can tell you that joy is just more than an emotion. Joy is a fruit of the divine spirit. Happiness is a science that can be earned through earning something physical. But you have Joy without any physical attachments. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Those who have joy do so because they received the promise of faith from the Infinite One. This is a rare thought.
You have to know what exactly it is that drives you. You should know what you are created for. If you find that and become that, every other thing will fall in place. Money should not be an issue then because you would be contented with what you have. Money is never enough anyway, so you have to decide what it is that would earn you fulfillment and a peace of mind. Do that very thing and master it. That is the place of art, not science.
Art is attention. Art is the beauty that lies within wherewith you maintain the joker to keep specific people coming and yearning. It is not the place of meeting majority. It is in the place where a few are willing to stay with you and afford you because you care more about their satisfaction than growing exponentially through same. You do not worry about becoming a franchise. You are great remaining an exclusive restaurant because you are driven by the art and not the science of multiplication. Becoming a franchise may not be the fascination for you.
Mario Puzzo, the famous author of Fools Die and The Godfather, portrayed Jordan, a depressed, consummate and hot-shot gambler, who kills himself after a big win. Jordan was found dead in his hotel room the next morning. Robin Williams achieved the massive benefits of the science of achievement, made people happy, laugh and he achieved every goal he set out to achieve but ended up hanging himself. Someone said he had dementia and abused drugs. He was successful but not fulfilled. He was empty inside.
Valorie Kondos, UCLA gymnastics coach for 25 years said in her TED talk that winning does not equal success. She believes through experience of almost three decades that people in schools, businesses and organizations have accepted winning at all costs as a mantra and lifestyle.
According to her, many who win laurels for their organizations and even students who earn straight As though accounted successful end up emotionally and mentally damaged at the end of their careers. She redefines champions as those who are developed for life, win or lose.
Life has to be more than science. Life has to be more than biology. You are more than biology. You have more than a physical or secular life to pursue. Without an understanding of the spiritual and the ability to seek the fulfillment of your mental and emotional health, you may be a success on the outside but a wreck on the inside. While science may have been adhered to, art is lost. This is precarious indeed.
As you seek science do not forget to balance it up with art because that is how life can indeed be well-rounded.
To follow the science of something is to follow the rules of that thing. Now, there really are no definite rules to follow in order to find yourself and forge a meaning out of your life. Nothing is cast in stone. You just have to find your own way around discovering yourself and live a fulfilled life. That is why it is an art, not a science. There are no hard and fast rules to it.
It is extremely important that this dichotomy is made. This is on the heels of the high incidences of mental and emotional health issues plaguing many. Besides, a distinction gives a great perspective to how life should be lived in a balanced way. Though a few have argued against balance, that in itself may be taking too rigid a view. This scientific stance may not augur well for fulfillment.
