Character Building vs Competence tasks

Many of our tasks are mundane and boring. And yes, routine - be it washing dishes, picking after oneself, laundry, cleaning, putting things away once done. Or office work like records, accounts. Or exercise and meditation, music practice etc.

And at home the tiny arguments continue. And we see it around us, especially the younger gen eagerly gearing up for the next great project on the career front and working for hours on their fav project but unwilling to take their coffee mugs to the kitchen or sort their laundry or keep their room clean or lend a hand even when the parents are sick. This is rarely the case with greats like Gandhiji who had no problem cleaning toilets himself every day.

We  also see this when working in voluntary service teams and get-togethers (informal settings, where structure is poorly defined), there are the exemplary few who choose the boring over the shiny, the few who do what needs to be done rather than the high-visibility tasks.

I have been reading somewhere - tasks can be classified as Competence Building and Character Building. Competence Building tasks help improve our skill and help us with our career, livelihood etc. Character Building tasks are the maintenance/routine tasks from cleaning up to accounts, boring but essential and tasks that keep us grounded, keep our ego, pride, arrogance in check. They are like the proverbial oil in a well-oiled machine.

Competence building tasks are the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of a tree. Character building tasks are like the roots, they keep one grounded and healthy. And both are needed for a well lived life.