Work is not a curse; it is a blessing. The most obvious fact is that without work we would have no money to spend on what we want and need. Without work (or others working and earning on our behalf) we would be practically homeless, hungry and naked. However, work is a whole lot more than a wand that keeps our creditors at bay.
Work is Spiritual
The human ‘spirit’ consists of all the attributes that make us both human and divine. Our spirit, energy and personal power are one and the same force.
From our spirit comes the power to create and to comfort, the power to imagine and to bring to life that which previously was not seen, the power to persevere amidst all odds and the ability to triumph.
Consider an artist for example, a composer of songs who plucks each melody out of the air - reaching into the deeps of the imagination for something that touches the human heart so deeply. Whatever has the power to transform the lives of others has travelled a long way; whatever touches our spirit comes from the spirit. A classic Igbo proverb says, “Nothing can stand alone; every being has something else standing beside it.” In other words, ‘we are more than just flesh and bones’.
We draw on our spirit, our essence, when we render help to others, work with ideas, speak, laugh, live … A person whose spirit has been crushed or wounded is unable to function adequately or be productive. The more ‘spirited’ our efforts, the better the quality of our work. If we choose work that flows from our spirit, we excel without needing to struggle, we thrive.
If we do work that our spirit resists, we wallow in anguish. Long after we are gone, the works we have done will be remembered.
In summary then, work is spiritual in the sense that: (i) our abilities are derived from the spirit, (ii) our creativity touches the spirit of others and (iii) our legacy outlives us - hovers like a ghost long after we have crossed the great divide. If work is spiritual then to work is to fulfil a higher calling.
Work is Sacrificial
We cannot love without making sacrifices. To love ourselves we must serve ourselves (wash, dry, clothe, feed, shelter, warm, protect…) often at the expense of convenience. Whilst many women spend long hours being poked and prodded at so that they can look beautiful, men endure facial shaving and intense physical workouts in order to enhance their attractiveness to others. Of course many people would choose an extra helping of food over an early morning session at the gym but the health conscious understand that sacrifice has its rewards.
To love others we must serve them as well. When we work we give of ourselves - the more we give, the more we become. Work gives us the opportunity to learn, to make mistakes and to correct them, it helps us to stretch, to grow, to be tested and to be rewarded. Those who work are not only servants but, ironically, masters of the people they serve. For example if you know absolutely nothing about plumbing or motor engines, you’ll become very dependent on a plumber and motor mechanic’s expertise when a house pipe goes burst and the car engine knocks. If all the plumbers in your town went on a strike or refused to answer the phone at your time of need, you’d be completely at their mercy. Money is only of any value when people are willing to trade their expertise for it.
Imagine how much you sacrifice every day just by showing up for work. You could be snuggling beneath your sheets, watching TV, doing a million and one other things … but you work hard in order to provide for the people you love, in order to make a difference in the world. And hopefully you work hard at the things that matter most to you because that in itself is a reward.
Work is a Gift
From the moment Okey was born, her parents knew she was special.
She loved music and her eyes would light up whenever anyone sang or turned the radio on. By the time she was 12 she was enrolled in the Church choir and various local music groups. At the age of 22 she’d bagged a degree in music and by the time she turned 33 she had become a reputable voice coach. One way or another, music made Okey happy.
Tim was fascinated by motor engines, circuits and grease. When he turned 18 he got a second hand Honda as a birthday present but spent more time tinkering with the car than he did driving it. When he turned 20, Tim quit his job at the local pub and signed up as a trainee mechanic.
Gifted people usually take great delight in their gifting - think of a five year old unwrapping presents on a Christmas morning. Singers love to sing, actors love to act, models love to show off, writers enjoy writing (when they get round to it), politicians love debate, scientists thrive on research, teachers like to teach and critics can’t wait to critique. Sometimes our gifts lead us to unexpected places. A wannabe fireman ends up a policeman, an aspiring actor becomes a director and a teacher stoops to learn. So we waltz and wander within this margin of error, we re-group and re-dream the dream if necessary. Although failure can be a painful process, we are willing to endure whatever comes, because we realise that a gift is hardly any good until it has been put to use.
Count yourself privileged if you are able to work because not everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so. Count yourself lucky if you ever have dealings with someone who takes pride in his or her work; it is an enriching experience. More importantly, consider yourself extremely fortunate if you derive joy and satisfaction from the work you do; it is a rare gift indeed even if one you gave to your own self.
Work is Therapeutic
I seldom crave for household chores but every time I eventually get around to washing, vacuum cleaning or cooking, I feel rejuvenated. Writing is a roller coaster experience of its own - when it’s tough it’s tough but when it flows I’m in seventh heaven. Research has proven that exercise is relaxing. Although we may groan and sweat whilst we are at it, signals are being sent to the brain causing a pleasurable flood of endorphins. A similar thing happens whenever we complete a task or achieve significant goals. Our minds and bodies are wired for success, but to succeed we must constantly work at things.
Work is Creative
Work allows us to be partakers of divinity - to compose, to organise and to create. Today’s society holds creativity in high esteem. The more creative one is, the more revered. To create is to work; to toil. A butcher in the street market creates a valuable service, a barrister at the high court creates a vital service and a ballet dancer creates entertainment value.
The earth would be plunged in darkness without the sun. Similarly our world would still be dim had Thomas Edison not pioneered the invention of electric lighting. The human body often repairs itself but sometimes it needs help. Had the African American scientist, Vivian Thomas, not pioneered open heart surgery, thousands more people would lose their lives to heart disease on a daily basis. When we speak, sound waves carry our words a fair distance. Likewise the contributions of various computer programmers have led to the internet revolution - giving the world a powerful way to communicate. In various industries and capacities, people co-create and recreate alongside Mother Nature.
Work is Your Destiny!
Creativity is your destiny. We are all on this earth to create value, to multiply and to rule. Whatever shape or form this mandate takes, it applies to all human beings. Destiny cannot be fulfilled without action, without work.
Great leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, missionaries, sportsmen and teachers have all had to work very hard in order to fulfil their destiny. So if work yields such bounteous rewards, how come everyone isn’t skipping and whistling on their way to the grindstone everyday of the week? Because a majority of people are in the wrong line of work or disenchanted for one reason or the other.
Are you?
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Ogo Ogbata is a multi-talented writer, speaker and consultant. Through her work at CreativityandSense.Com, she empowers people to create financially rewarding work that allows time and energy for what matters most in life. Sign up for her inspirational newsletter and receive 2 Free Gifts at: CreativityandSense.Com
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