Photo by Martina Carinci on Unsplash
Yesterday, we discussed the question of ”Who Do You Work For.”
I referred to GK Chesterton and his view on the mindset of working for oneself.
That doesn’t necessarily mean being self-employed. More, it’s an attitude of mind.
It’s relevant today because many employees feel disillusioned with their jobs and careers.
Work and life pressures can, if we let them, erode our feeling of being independent beings in control of our own destinies.
That’s not surprising given the cost of rent, mortgages, child care and the cost of living.
When you add stress from work pressure or fear of job loss, it’s no wonder that managers increasingly talk about mental well-being issues.
And that’s where Chesterton’s view can help.
So too can this quote from St Thomas Aquinas.*
“Work is for a purpose.”
That’s something else we can forget amid all the negativity mentioned above.
The purpose can be simple, such as “to earn money.”
Or, you might want to work in a career in which you help or care for people, such as nursing or medicine.
You might be an artist or creative.
Leaving aside the religious importance Thomas Aquinas placed on work, he argues that work is good for us.
It provides purpose, a way to earn a living and a route to self-expression.
So, if you’re feeling disillusioned with your job, find ways to give it purpose and to make it more worthwhile to you.
And if you can’t get beyond the financial aspect, look to hobbies and activities outside of your job for the creative and self-development outlets that make life more fulfilling.
If you’re a business owner, find ways to help the people who work with and for you grow personally and financially.
Your business will run much more effectively if you do.
* Thomas Aquinas OP was an Italian Dominican friar and priest, theologian, and philosopher. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Catholic theology and Western philosophy. Thomas was a proponent of natural theology and the father of a school of thought known as Thomism. Wikipedia