When I was in my twenties my mother used to encourage me to study hard so that in the future I will be able to find a good job (work) which makes me easy to live. Perhaps, she believed the antidote of poverty is the only Education (Academic Degree). The old maxim ‘Everyone works to live and no one lives to work’ was deep rooted in my mother’s life. However, I reminisce mothers’ hard dedication and work for the betterment of the family. She used to work hard in order to live as well as support the family.
The Universe has given every human being a survival instinct. I think we deserve a job that serves our life as well as we deserve a life that serves a job, career, calling, or higher purpose. Many people do the jobs beside their dissatisfaction and agony. They choose the jobs for the earning purpose only where no interest & aptitude persist. The new work cultures like — ‘Work Today’, ‘Make the Boss Happy’, ‘Being Centre of Attraction’, ‘Power Play’ etc. are seen in today’s arena.
The various researches were conducted intensely over the last decade regarding the work nature and psychological & physical wellbeing of the individuals. Jeffrey Pfeffer in his book, Dying for a paycheck, details how work places are ruining people’s health over time. He said — “On average, work is killing people when it should be making them healthier.”
In order to be happy in the work, first we need to change our belief system regarding the old maxim-” We do not work to live, but we live for the work”. ‘You’ are the most important than anything. We need to make the attitude beyond than earning. In place of the notion that we work primarily for pay, we need to start thinking about how we work to create improvement in other people’s lives. It is always good to find the solutions in our job. Take care of self and others.
I genuinely do understand when clients say they’re looking for a change, but don’t know what it is yet or how to achieve it. Because I have been there, done that and thankfully was lucky enough to walk away to now be doing a job where I never have to think “Thank God it’s Friday (TGIF).”
