Holistic Work Attitude
Article by Dieter Luske N.D.-D.C.H.-D.M.H.-D.H
Work, don’t you just love it? No? Why not?
After all, it’s your choice; you either love it and be happy or hate it and be miserable. Therefore, even if you are stuck in a lousy job, you may as well love it; it’s a healthier attitude for you.
Now, wouldn’t it be nice if it would be that easy?
But work is more than just a simple word to describe a function; it is loaded with emotions, preconceptions, fear, love, hate, and different perspectives and attitudes.
Most of us have to work to earn a living; it’s a “fact” of life.
For most, that fact can’t be changed, but it may be possible to change one’s attitude towards work.
What is work, and why has it become such an ill-conceived word?
The true meaning of work is simple;
“It is an activity involving mental or physical effort to achieve a result.”
In that explanation, money is not the primary objective, “result” is.
I do like this definition, as it is in itself: “neutral“. It has no meaning or emotion attached to it. It is not bad nor good, not positive or negative; it just becomes what you make it.
Undoubtedly, many people see work as a necessary evil to stay alive. They simply have to work, often in a meaningless job, just to earn a living. It is easy to preach, “do what you love”, but if, for that group, no other means to make a living is apparent, then that advice will just cause more hardship. Instead, it may be possible to change one’s attitude and concentrate on the positivity of having a job, earning money, and loving that part.
For example, I remember as a young adult talking to a street sweeper; yes, it was a long time ago. He told me that he has the best job ever, he earns enough, can work all day outside in the fresh air, has not a worry in the world, has a sense of “result” looking back at the street just swept, and as a bonus, he didn’t have to work in bad weather, but still got paid.
I can’t find a better example to demonstrate a positive attitude.
However, someone else in the same situation may well hate that job, dreading going to work every day, hating the hopelessness of that situation. Still, without a change of attitude, that person makes life even more problematic than it is already.
If I am asked, “how should I come to terms with the fact that I have to work for the rest of my life?”
I always answer, if possible, love what you do, the chance to keep a positive attitude is much higher, and you are likelier to be excellent and passionate about your work.
I was brought up with the notion that working hard is all you have to do to be successful.
No one told me that there was more to it, but I changed my attitude upon hearing:
“You are working too hard; you have no time to think about how to make money”.
I found that intriguing, and it certainly changed my attitude about work.
I still worked hard but focused now on what I would love to do and how to achieve results and income.
Not long after, I had my own business.
But, before anyone can actually “do what they love to do” and even make money with that, they may have to come to terms with some other facts.
Consider for a moment that we are all “sucked in”. Go to school, be educated, finish school or university, get a job and work hard till you retire. Is that a suitable model for a successful life?
We have a choice; there is the possibility to question that basic structure, as many people obviously have, and find other ways and attitudes towards life, living and working.
Maybe instead of trying to find a job and let the job dictate your lifestyle, you try it the different way around.
First, you create the lifestyle you would like to live, then you budget that lifestyle and see what you need to earn to live your preferred lifestyle.
You may find that you need to earn much less, giving you better job opportunities and time to think and create your own niche to work in, doing what you love to do, possibly working your own business.
The future will undoubtedly present us with new working facts, and working for oneself may have to become much more prominent.
This may be the most significant change in attitude, switching from relying on someone providing a job to creating your own work and income by doing what you love.
Article by Dieter Luske
