Where does your
definition of work come from?
 Redefining Work - An exercise in Conformity |
What is your definition of work, when we are at work we carry with us our very own definitions of what work means to us. They are unique, unique to each and every one of us.
Many of us may define work as an external result, for example, building a house is work, loading and unloading a van is work, selling is work. It is something tangible, physical, an association with actually doing something, something with an end result.
Where does this come from? More often than not our definition of work is derived from our experiences, experiences we have gained from life, from our childhoods, from our adolescence from our experience of conformity.
The following is an extract from Tim Gallweys book, the Inner Game of Work, here you can see an example of how easy it is for us as human beings to overlook the most important element of an activity, enjoyment.
The Martian and The Golfer
Is golf a pressure filled game? if you ask most golfers this question, invariably the answer will be "Yes,definitely."
When asked if the golfer could explain where this pressure came from to a Martian, for example, enlightenment ensues......
Martian: I understand golf is a game where you hit a ball until it goes into a hole and you count the number of times you hit the ball to get it into that hole, eighteen times. Where is the pressure
Golfer : Hitting the ball into the hole is not that easy.
Martian : I understand that, but the rules of golf say if you don't get the ball in the hole, you simply put a higher number on your scorecard.
Golfer : Exactly, that's not a good thing. You might lose your bet to the people you are playing with.
Martian : Do you lose more than you spend to play this game in the first place?
Golfer : No, not usually. But another thing that happens is that your handicap goes up.
Martian : And then what happens?
Golfer : It's a matter of pride and self-esteem. If you score poorly, especially when you are capable of better, your self-esteem tends to be affected.
Martian : Oh! I didn't read about that in the rules of golf?
Golfer : Well it isn't written, it's just understood by us golfers.
It is at this point in the story, that the source of the fear and pressure are evident. It cames from a definition of the game that puts self-esteem on the line.
The martian, not having been privvy to the background culturual converstaion saw only the physical difficluties, she would not have experienced the same fear and pressure if she herself had played.
Redefine your definition of work
If the golfer had a different definition of golf in his mind, a definition with no fear and no issue of self-esteem on the line, he would undoubtedly have enjoyed the golf more.
The same can be said of your definition of work, if you are constantly struggling to enjoy your work, based upon your definition, then of course finding enjoyment will become much more difficult, and therefore affecting everything about your work, your stress levels, your time management, your work life balance, in fact everything associated with work can be affected.
Would you like to redefine your definition of work? You would, excellent.
Redefine Your Definition Of Work : An exercise
To help youredefine your definition of work, the exercise is available as a PDF document, please feel free to download and print of, set some time to one side, about 30 to 40 minutes should be enough time, and complete the exercise, it's another action step towards your work life balance journey.
What is Your Definition Of Work Exercise.So is there another way to define work? There is a simple process for redefining any important word. Start by asking where you got the current definition. Then you can evaluate that definition and make any changes.
Column 1Memories that contribute to your current definition of the word.
Column 2
The definition that came from the source
Column 3
Assess the validity of your old definition in light of your current purpose and values.
Challenge Your Beliefs and Definition Of Work
Once you have completed the exercise, and you have all of your memories and beliefs regarding work comfortably in place, Challenge those memories, challenge those beliefs
Once you have challenged those memeories and beliefs you will perhaps be able to see things differently, maybe your definition of work is based on work = a hard slog doing something physical, maybe your definition equates to working long hours and taking work home with you.
If you are happy with your definition your behaviour will be congruent with your beliefs and memories, if however you are not happy with your definition, it is very likely that your behaviour will be incongruent, increasing your anxities, stresses and concerns about work.
It is perhaps at this stage in your self-assessment that you seriously consider re-evaluating your beliefs about work and begin taking action to address your concerns.
A Final Word Of Encouragement
It is important to see that there is no correct “Objective” definition of work. What influences our experience of work is the definition that we have formed subjectively.
As we have formed these beliefs through our experiences over time, we can of course form new experiences to replace those old ones, you have the tools available, you were born with them.
Those tools are :-
- The ability to develop complex long term memory.
- The ability to build rapport, empathise and connect with others.
- Imagination which can allow us to focus our attention away from our emotions in order to problem solve more objectively.
- A conscious, rational mind that can check out our emotions, ask questions, analyse (the left hemisphere of your brain).
- The ability to "know"- understand the world unconsciously through metaphorical pattern matching ( the right hemisphere of your brain).
- An observing self - that part of us that can step back, be more objective and recognise itself as a unique centre of awareness apart from intellect, emotion and conditioning.
- A dreaming brain that preserves the integrity of our genetic inheritance every night by metaphorically defusing emotionally arousing introspections not acted out the previous day.
Utilise these tools, especially your imagination, a much mis-used human attribute, imagine a definition of work where Happiness is at the core of that definition and it will become a reality.