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The Critical Role of Work:
Real Success is Rooted in Meaningful Work
Are You Unhappy?
Are you unhappy with your life? Do you hate your job, your days of
empty existence, your progress, so far, in life? Give some thought,
then, to the critical role of work. If work has always been
just another a 4-letter word to you, it may be time to rethink your
ideas of labor and fun.
Work is Necessary for Happiness
An important fact of life: Real and measurable success in life is
rooted in meaningful work.
Too many of us think of work strictly as a means to a paycheck. We
know that we need money in order to get along in life, and so we
start looking for something we can do to get some money.
Such errors in our thinking often leads to many other mistakes, and
to decades of misery, frustration and even crippling illnesses. We
end up thinking that "the right thing to do" is always going to be
less fulfilling and pleasurable than "what we really want" in life.
This can result in a life of bitter determination to always do the
right thing, no matter what. It can also lead to a life spent
running from responsibility.
Work is central to human happiness. Human beings must work in order
to be satisfied with life. We must do productive and meaningful
things with our time, our hands, our minds, our hearts. We must have
a reason to get up every day.
We must turn our thinking around. We can start by asking simple
questions — questions that may actually change our entire lives.
Am I doing something meaningful with my days? Is the work that I'm
doing ethical, morally worthwhile — the right thing to do? Why do I
do the kind of work I do? Is there something I could be doing that
would be closer to who and what I really am inside?
Work is Life & Life is Work
In every human society the people must serve a function. In most
cases, that function includes some kind of physical and/or mental
labor. We may wash clothes for a living, or sing songs, or try to
educate children. And in just about every kind of human society,
some jobs are valued above other jobs, and that value may not be
logical or even right.
Most of the jobs that need doing are easily classified as ethically
and morally positive. We feed people. We help to provide them with
clothing. We paint their houses or offices. We help to organize and
administer local or regional government. We help to maintain the
safety and freedom of our community or nation.
Work as an Expression
But what does the work we do say about us as people? If I fry
burgers all day in order to pay for a small apartment, does that say
something about me? What if I fly commercial jets or drive a bus or
own a taxi? Or what if I help to run a large bank, turning farmers
and other small business owners away all day — men and women who are
struggling to make ends meet?
I'm not going to tell you what kind of work you should be doing.
Only God can do that as you make your way through life, seeking His
direction and help. But I will tell you that you may have more
options that you think.
What Would You Do?
Here's a couple more questions to ponder:
1. If income (and survival) was not an issue, what kind of work
would you choose to do?
2. Time passes quickly. In ten years, what kind of work do you hope
to be doing?
3. What can you do today that will help you reach whatever you
answered for questions one and/or two?
Spend some time on these questions. Don't stop thinking about them
until you have solid (practical) answers to all three of them.
God bless you as you move forward in life.
©2006 Jim Sutton
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