Reclaiming Passion for work

Why is it that we don’t love our jobs any longer? why is that we are constantly complaining about our jobs? Why is it that we want a “get-away” solution to work related stress?  Why is it that we get to work with a “Thank-God-its-a-Friday” attitude? This is an issue that needs to be dealt with at the earliest. I read sometime back that the key to life long happiness is to love your work. But, why it that we can’t love our jobs.

Increased automation, monotony of the task and the presure to perform may have made our lives difficult in the workplace. But then, more often than not it is our attitude towards work. For most of us, our jobs are a necessary evil. They help us to pay our bills. And sadly, people have started to work just to pay back credits. We have reduced “work” to a “job”. A job is something we do for the money. Work is something that we do for fulfillment.

We look for weekends that would keep us away from the dreadchery of work. The workplace has become a machine world. There’s nothing but work-work-work. So, we want to play games to regain our human-ness. The games we play have become simple. Spock in the Startrek series remarks, the more complex the mind the more simple the games are. One philosopher contends, the most finest amusements are the most pointless”. A (re)look at the games we play can tell us alot about ourselves.

Agreed, most of us do not land up in our dream jobs. But then, work is an essential aspect of life. It provides us meaning, significance and a sense of accomplishment. We need meaning – significance and a sense of achievement. Without which life becomes filled with boredom. Think about this:

• Why do you work?
• Why did you apply to the organization you work now?
• What aspects of your work do you dislike? Why?
• why aspects of you work do you like? why?
• Is it a problem or a psychological preference?
• Have you spoken to someone about it?
• What can you do to resolve your hang-ups about your job?

We need to enjoy our work. Work should not be reduced to a job. Work is much more than a job. It provides us daily meaning and signficance we all need. Next time you get to your workplace do not have a ” Thank-God-its-Friday” attitude.

Explore possiblities of how your daily work can become meaningful. Build meaningful relationships at the workplace. Find out how you work (re)shapes you. For your own sake “Reclaim the passion for work” – you’d be alot more happier and life a little more spiced up.