Work offers you the best chance of finding yourself

Iremember reading somewhere that although everyone may not like to work all the time, yet work offers you the best chance of finding yourself. There are not many things in the world that may help one in the quest for self in the same way as working does.

There are many reasons for this. Firstly, great women and men, who have left their mark in this world have taught us not only the true meaning of life but also the meaning of life after death by showing us the good work that we do has the best chance of surviving after us. The work of great scientists, writers, historians and social workers has lived on for decades and centuries after the men and women ceased to be. This can also be taken to mean that work and not drinking wassails, epic soirees and tea with gossip is the best way to connect with our brethren, not only today but for ages to come.

While our work gives us the best opportunity to bond with the rest of humanity, it is equally responsible for fostering in us a sense of completeness as it is in work that it is hardest to separate the body from the soul. When we put our heart in the work we do, our paramount concern is to content ourselves and no one else. It is probably one of those rare moments when we look within and take serious account of our strengths and weaknesses.

Apart from this, there is an unmistakable existential purpose associated with the human ability to work, especially if we look at life not only as being but also as becoming. Work appears to be the best means of self-realisation and self-discovery as our engagement with work generally unfolds at two levels.

Our achievements and accomplishments not only help us realise our abilities, but they also make us conscious of our limitations. There is so much to achieve for which this one life is not enough. It is probably because of this that idleness has been equated with and allegorised as a vice and procrastination as a thief. There are so many tales and adages in which idleness has been likened to thieves and demons. There is a story of a demon that would serve the master unconditionally but would devour him if he were left without work, indirectly alluding to the perils of idleness.

The religious tradition of Punjab has also upheld the importance of kirat or work as the greatest humanising force through the doctrine ‘Kirat karo, naam jappo, wannd chhako (Work hard and honestly, always remember God and share with the needy)’.

Our work helps us rejoice in our achievements and makes us conscious of the fact that we do not have all the time in the world. Work acquires meaning somewhere in the middle of one’s individual sense of unique self, of the feeling that ‘no one is like me’ and the equally cogent realisation that no one is indispensable. The world does not come to a stop without any individual howsoever important. By working, we are able to construe the true meaning of success and failure if they be seen as the outcome of personal efforts.

Both personal success and failure are ephemeral, owing to their insignificance in the larger scheme of things. However, just because everything will perish is no excuse for not making anything. Strife, resilience, toil and commitment to live meaningfully celebrated in our work makes life blissful.

STRIFE, RESILIENCE, TOIL AND COMMITMENT TO LIVE MEANINGFULLY CELEBRATED IN OUR WORK MAKES LIFE BLISSFUL