Why Work?

I was cleaning out my computer files and came across something I wrote three years ago. It seems even more relevant now:

Why do we work at all? Is the only reason we need to work/hold a job is because it provides "coin" in the societal bartering system? If you were truly self-sufficient, you wouldn't require a job--keeping yourself fed and clothed would become your job! Or, if your needs became quite simple and basic, you could have a part-time job and still get by as long as you were willing to adjust your lifestyle and expectations accordingly. So the question becomes: HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED AND WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO/TRADE/LOSE TO GET IT?

We as an American society often decide that we need fancy cars or exotic vacations or bigger houses and then spend the rest of our lives paying for those “necessities”. Other cultures place more value on relationships and spending time with people in social settings. Their workday may be shorter, their vacations longer, and their “pressing needs” are more around what to bring to the community dinner.

Another aspect of work is the emphasis our society places on retirement. People work non-stop 30-40 years (often compromising their health from the stress in the process) to be able to spend the last 5-30 years of their lives not working. They worry whether they will have the health insurance coverage they need in their old age if they get sick. Countless workers scrimp and save to get to retirement only to die a few years later. The money that was to be their security in old age is now given over to taxes and heirs. This mentality is also different in other countries, where multiple generations live with or near each other and caring for the elderly is either an expectation or people just continue working until they die.

Few people can stand to do nothing day after day. I believe it is part of man’s inherent nature to be productive and want to contribute to the world. We work to give back to society. It is by “doing our part” that we justify our place on this planet. Many jobs allow people to do this but the problem is that while the work may be valuable to the community as a whole, it often does not feed the soul of the person due to its repetitive nature or the way society values it or how isolating it is or the fact that it doesn’t truly utilize the skills and gifts of the person doing the job.

A 2009 Conference Board survey of 5000 households showed that only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, with how much money they make cited as the main reason for dissatisfaction. Does this mean our out-of-control wants are possibly contributing to our general unhappiness? Obviously people who are working full time and are still at or below poverty level are going to find daily life enormously stressful. But to be happy with what you have and to not need all the consumer frills surely plays a part in overall life satisfaction too.

 

Interestingly, having a job that is personally fulfilling is a fairly new concept in our society, since it used to be you did whatever work you could to feed your family, often manual labor. But my question is, why shouldn’t something that takes up so much of your life on Earth be something that not only enriches the world but makes you excited to get up in the morning? I do believe we are put on the planet to express our talents and strengths in a way that enhances our lives and the people around us.

Another factor in job happiness is the people with whom you work. A good set of colleagues can make or break a workplace. So, what defines a good colleague? Positive attitude is wonderful but being competent and pulling your weight are also very important. No one likes to work with someone who does the bare minimum or takes advantage of the system. No one likes to work with a gossip or someone who spends all their time socializing instead of working either. And who likes to work with someone who is always complaining about health and personal problems? All of these contribute to overall job dissatisfaction. Being at a friendly job fulfills a social need. It could be lonely, boring, and isolating to be at home all the time. Perhaps a career is where the Serenity Prayer originated: accept the things you cannot change, change the things you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference…

 Another point to consider is whether the problem is actually with the job or with an attitude or fear or problem within you that you will simply carry to the next place of employment. Wherever you go, there you are! Look at your work history and there is a common thread in your discontentment—you. How do you change that?

So the question is: how do we find work that is something we like, that pays well, with people who aren’t going to drive us crazy? Is that an impossible dream? Is opening your own business the only answer? Do you give in to the fear-mongering that says you will die destitute and alone if you aren’t successful in your career and save $10,000 a year in your IRA? Do you let the positives of a situation outweigh the negatives simply because you’d rather take the known rather than the unknown? How do you define success?

If the saying “Do what you love and the money will follow” is true, then what is preventing you from following your passion? If you had the ideal job, what would be different? Is there a way to start transitioning to that place, either through classes or volunteering or going part time? Are you happy working as a team or are you better doing most things by yourself? Do you have the self-discipline to run your own business? How much people contact do you need? How much incoming money is your bare minimum?

Perhaps you are being drawn to a more spiritual life where you live simply and are more self sufficient. What does a typical day look like for you? What is the appeal of that lifestyle? Is there a way you could move toward that without completely opting out of your current situation? Are there classes, books, or experiences you need to have before you make that your new way of life?

 

We have no guarantees in life. We don’t know if we will live long enough to retire or what health or financial situation may confront us unexpectedly. While I am not advocating throwing all caution to the wind, I do believe that life is meant to be LIVED in a way that makes us feel glad to be here on Earth. I want to feel like I squeezed all the joy and juiciness out of life while I could, and not feel my days are an endless repetition til death. I want to feel rested and active and healthy and mentally challenged and learning ALL the time—not just on weekends or breaks or summers. Above all, I want to be around positive energy. People who are happy and not complaining, who are active, growing, and inspire me by their example and encouragement.