The Life Crisis

The life crisis. 

What is the life crisis? The quarter-life crisis, the midlife crisis, among others. 

When does this crisis occur? 

Who does it happen to? Why do some people not have one, while others have them multiple times a day? 

What spurs this crisis? The accomplishments of others? Our own recognizition or our unsatisfactory progress in life? 

Might these crises be constructive in our personal development? 

Perhaps I have more questions than answers here, but all questions deserving of attention. 

Work and Terror Management

Terror Management Theory. One of my very favorites.

To put it simply, this theory argues that much of human behavior is motivated to buffer us from thoughts about our own death. We attempt to find meaning in life, and create something bigger than us to provide us with a feeling that we will go on.  Even relationships, love, and sex have been credited for guarding us from thoughts of our inevitable demise. 

Surprisingly, researchers have yet to describe work as a buffer to thoughts about death. 

However I contend, that work is one the greatest suppressant of thoughts about death...

Endless e-mails, piles of work, coworkers always relying on you... there are always things to do. More than that, our work is something greater than ourselves. The author's published book, the artist's paintings, and the songwriter's lyrics... all things that will go on and exist long after they are gone. All this to say...

...make your work count.

Sistine Chapel

The Sex Appeal of Work

Work is not commonly thought of as sexy.

Day to day drudgery, often dirty and hard work. Long hours completing tasks that are tedious and often feel menial.

But might our work be sexy? 

Perhaps work might not be sexy in our own eyes, but rather it is sexy in the eyes of others.

Experts on intimacy have convincingly described that we long to see our partners/lovers in a new light, from a different angle. Similarly, we long to see our lover as an engaged worker.

It is exceedingly sexy to see the person you love passionately engaged in tasks they truly enjoy.

The utility of taking this perspective is monumental...

Putting spice back in your love life may not reside in the bedroom, but rather lies in the engagement we have with others outside of our relationship.

Volunteer...start a new hobby...take a class... 


Get love from your Work.

Compliments of C. Arakawa

Working and They Don't Need the Money

Work.

The definition of work is that it is an activity involving mental or physical effort to achieve a purpose or result. Work has dreadful synonyms including words such as drudgery, exertion, slog, grind and sweat.

Work is an activity one has to do, and the efforts are affiliated with the means by which one must earn an income.

But what if you work and you don't need the money.

In fact, many do...

There are countless examples of people who work for the personal fulfillment. Movie stars often have buckets of money and pursue work to help others, or just to do perform and continue doing what they love. Well-off retirees often continue to work by way of bridge retirement, or through volunteer organizations. Terminally ill often continue working while ill, or seek work after recovery.

Many work for reasons far greater, deeper, and more fulfilling than money. Perhaps it is there we can discover the true meaning of work.