It is incredible to see how many people think about jobs, work, and activity that brings in money as a trap.
One big prison sentence of having to figure out what to do to earn money, find a job, and then trade services, time and energy for pay.
You give them your time, effort, expertise…and you don’t get to live your life freely! You can’t do what you want to do!
You’re workin’ for THE MAN! (Clenched fist).
Not long ago a man I was facilitating in The Work around his small business was talking about the 99% (the slogan used in the US addressing the disparity between the ultra rich 1% and then everyone else).
He was talking about how so many people are ripped off, never can get ahead.
He said he noticed how most people are part of the rat race and he said how sad that so many people hate their jobs.
It reminded me of myself and my past view of work and business, that I was FORCED by society to make an income, that I HAD to have a job.
I once had the same attitude about work, corporations, paychecks, that “they” are controlling my vacation time, and sick leave and the whole shebang.
When I had one job, around age 24 (my first after college) I dreamed about being somewhere better, of not having to go to work Monday through Friday.
I complained internally about HAVING to DRIVE to work when I’d rather STAY HOME. So many things to do, read, learn…..and work was a big interruption.
I did not have The Work back then, a way to practice personal self-inquiry with clarity.
Thank goodness I still found so much that I actually liked about that job. I met friends there, for example, who became friends for my entire life….really deep wonderful friendships.
But having a global attitude towards work and jobs spelling trouble, of jobs being “hard” or unsatisfying, can really leave a person stuck.
I remember a moment in my distant past where I was on my way to my office job in the big huge city I lived in, frustrated that I “had” to go.
It’s helpful to see what was really wrong with having to go, what I believed I was missing, what was most annoying.
- its better if you get to do whatever you want all day long
- having a schedule is a burden
- I want to be doing “x” instead (watching movies, playing music, reading, sleeping, hanging out with my children)
- my job is boring
- I can’t quit this job because I need the money
- its too hard to find another job
- there’s no time for creativity, fun, joy in my day
- they run my life (the employer, the supplier of the funds)
My perception of work in so many ways was that it was an imposition.
The concept my client questioned was part of that field: I would rather be on vacation.
It seemed really true.
Vacation vs working on the business non-stop day and night? Duh! Of course that’s true!
Are you sure?
Are you sure you want to change the channel, get out of this supposed “non-stop” experience of working, and be on vacation, whatever that actually IS?
Is vacating really such a draw? (I personally find sitting on a beach with a cold drink interesting for about 30 minutes).
As I facilitated this thoughtful client through his frustration with trying to run a little business, he discovered that often, he knew what it was like to live without the thought “I would rather be on vacation”.
He only had that thought when he felt exhausted, tense, unable to let go of the outcome of his day.
Without the thought that he’d rather be somewhere else relaxing, he relaxed. He slowed down.
He noticed that he actually had a big and rather puzzling project in front of him: how to become successful, how to make the money flow more easily, how to serve more people, how to have fun while doing it all, how to love his work life.
He LIKED that project, even though sometimes he felt frustrated with it because he had to learn so much that was new.
The full turnaround opposite to the thought is “I would rather be here, doing this work, having my day, being myself, creating, building, generating”.
I love finding examples of this turnaround for myself, sitting with them, feeling them, imagining them to be as true as the original stressful beliefs:
- I am doing what I want, I feel passion, joy and focus in my business, I have purpose, excitement
- having a schedule is huge freedom, I don’t have to think about it, I’m in service
- Every single thing I think I’m missing, I already do: watch movies, play music, read, sleep, hang out with my children, rest
- my job is very exciting, my job is being me, wherever I am
- I don’t need money to have a happy life, I don’t need a vacation to have a happy life
- its very easy to find new work, job, ideas
- there’s great possibility for finding creativity, fun, joy in my day
- they run my life (the employer, the supplier of the funds) and I’m so grateful!
“Placing the blame or judgment on someone else leaves you powerless to change your experience; taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them.” ~ Byron Katie
What if I can find happiness in whatever my status, job, position, work environment?
Wherever I am, whatever I do, whatever is going on?
“Use that opportunity of a diminished sense of self-worth and self-image, and step beyond. Then, perhaps, you’ll find a job – but your sense of worth no longer depends on what you do there, or what you don’t do, or achieve or don’t achieve. You will find some transcendence, and you can bring that transcendence into your next job. The clinging to mental images is not there anymore. You’ll be surprised how well you’ll do, in your next job, when the clinging to images isn’t there anymore.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
If you have thoughts about being unfulfilled, or wanting more vacation, question your thinking.
You may find fulfillment right here, right now.
And all you ever wanted in a vacation.
Love, Grace