Why Do We Lack Fulfillment in Work?

What is the essence of work, and why do we engage in it? Traditionally, work is perceived as a means to an end: we earn money to support our lives, paying for homes, food, leisure, and vacations. This view confines work to a 9-to-5 routine, Monday through Friday, leading many to spend their best years tied to a desk.

But does this traditional understanding truly satisfy us, or does it leave us yearning for something more?

Unmasking Modern Work

Work has transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming, trade skills, factory labor, and now, to white-collar jobs. We’re taught to believe that desk jobs, meetings, and memos are the apex of work evolution, marking us as intellectual workers. Yet, if this is true, why do so many of us feel unfulfilled in our careers? Why do office workers often respond with indifference or dissatisfaction when discussing their jobs? This discontent quietly erodes our spirits.

To manage this dissatisfaction, we invent small celebrations like ‘Hump Day’ and ‘TGIF’ to lift our spirits during the workweek. These moments, filled with shared jokes and camaraderie, aim to reduce the dread associated with work and offer a brief hope for a more enjoyable weekend. However, this points to our flawed view of work as merely a means to an end, fostering feelings of emptiness and lack of purpose.

Reimagining Work

To find genuine fulfillment, we need to rethink our notion of work. Work should be seen not only as a means to an end but also as an end in itself. It should involve the active engagement of the whole person in the act of creation, focusing not just on financial outcomes but on creating something meaningful and lasting. This holistic engagement brings satisfaction and fulfillment, as both the mind and body participate in the process. This balance is evident in the contentment of farmers whose physically demanding work nourishes their souls.

In today’s society, we’ve disconnected the creator from their creation, turning work into a mere tool for acquiring material wealth. This disconnection leads to a soulless existence where anxiety prevails, and weekends become brief escapes from the draining workweek. While not everyone can be a farmer, everyone can strive to reconnect with their work. By re-establishing this bond, you’ll discover fulfillment and joy, allowing work to nourish your soul.

The Fallacy of Work-Life Balance

Our culture often presents two flawed philosophies of work-life balance. The first emphasizes bureaucratic work, leading to risk-aversion and mediocrity, which doesn’t enhance your character or skills in any meaningful way. It’s merely a cycle of paper-shuffling aimed at securing the next promotion, leading to a compartmentalized life where you falsely believe your mediocre work doesn’t affect other areas of life. The second philosophy glorifies relentless work, neglecting personal responsibilities and character growth in pursuit of career success.

A New Approach: Embracing Harmony

Harmony offers a cohesive and integrated way of life, recognizing the interdependence of work and personal life. It’s not about juggling two separate activities but understanding that work and life can seamlessly coexist. Harmony doesn’t prioritize work over life or vice versa but sees them as interconnected. Work becomes an active engagement in creation, and life involves building relationships and gaining wisdom.

Confucius emphasized the importance of striving in all aspects of life, not just in one.

“From fifteen, my heart and mind was set upon learning; from thirty I took my stance; from forty I was no longer doubtful; from fifty I realized the propensities of tian; from sixty my ear was attuned; from seventy I could give my heart and mind free rein without overstepping the boundaries.”

– Confucius

Harmony is like water: gentle and constant, always flowing without forcing its way. It allows you to move effortlessly between work and life, making each an expression of the other. Through harmony, work inspires you to love more deeply, and life motivates you to do your best work. This approach transforms life into a meditative practice, bringing peace and eliminating the struggle between work and life.

Embrace harmony in work and life, and you’ll find peace. Work and life will no longer be in competition but will flow like water, moving without resistance.

“Man sacrifices his health to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

– Dalai Lama

Sending love and gratitude to all!