need for balanced food and meals vs. rules for what and how much to eat

need to stay connected with God vs. rituals and obligations of spiritual discipline

need to work hard in school and do my best for my students vs. unrealistic expectations for my performance and the urge to compete or strive

need to maintain an orderly physical environment vs. obsession with tidying up at the expense of rest

need for social and spiritual community vs. half-hearted, half-minded interactions

Then in church today we discussed the idea of creation without a cause, in which God is concerned with creating and enjoying, not using or manipulating. As much as I want to learn from the process of making mistakes and trying new things, maybe the process itself has intrinsic value apart from any lessons learned. It's like taking a walk through the forest to enjoy the trees and the animals and the fresh air, rather than to get somewhere, exercise the body, whatever. There's a fine line between them, to be sure. It's not wrong to have a destination or to derive benefits from the journey, but maybe it doesn't always have to be about what I can get out of it. That sounds like true worship to me.