Dearest Gurudev, there is a constant running for importance and recognition in my life. Most of my decisions are based on this. Recognition has been my major motivation in whatever I do including seva. Please advise.
It’s good that you recognize your weakness. Once you have recognized it, you are already coming out of it. Next time you do seva, tell yourself, 'Okay, I am going to do seva but not tell anybody about it'.
In India there is something called as a secret gift. When you gift something it is called as a 'Gupt Daan'. It means you have given but didn’t tell that you are giving. Quietly you give. You donate but you don’t even want your name to be put on the name plate which says that so and so donated this. When you quietly give, it is called Gupt daan.
What the right hand gives, the left hand also does not know. So, people used to take pride in that. You also take pride in the same thing. At least one time or two times do some seva for which you are not expecting any recognition. This act brings you so much joy. Once you get the taste of that act which is purely seva, you will find it so blissful, so interesting that you will want to go for it again and again.
So, if not all the acts, at least some acts you should do without wanting recognition.
For the other things that you do, it is quite natural to want recognition. You do some good work in your office and you want recognition, there is nothing wrong in that. When you find real fulfillment in life, you feel so contented, then you don’t mind whether someone recognizes you or not. You keep doing what is good for you.