Acharya Prashant explains that true free will originates from a person's own understanding, where action arises naturally from that clarity. In contrast, a person living like a slave acts according to external influences such as society, family, and external powers. Such an individual cannot perform any task with wholeness or find joy in their actions, leading to a life of mediocrity. He emphasizes that excellence is a direct result of enjoyment. Most people remain mediocre in academics, sports, and arts because they act out of compulsion rather than their own will. Only those who are their own masters and find joy in their work can achieve excellence. He points out that issues like poor time management are merely symptoms of a deeper problem: living life without truly understanding it. Other symptoms include chronic boredom, a lack of genuine joy, and a constant sense of fear or chaos. This lack of understanding stems from relying on borrowed information and social conditioning from parents, media, and religion. These external sources create a fixed image of life—defined by duties, responsibilities, and hard work—which prevents individuals from seeing the reality of life as it happens in the present moment. Regarding distractions, Acharya Prashant explains that one gets distracted only when they are not fully immersed in their work. He uses the example of playing a sport like football; when a person is completely absorbed in the game, they do not notice external noises or even physical pain. Distraction arises when a person is not whole in their actions. He suggests that life should become playful, where work is transformed into play. Those who have truly achieved greatness in science, technology, or spirituality are those who did not take life as a serious burden but approached it with a sense of joy and playfulness.
