There’s something seriously unhealthy in the world today, and it’s called the work-ethic.
It can be simply defined as a belief in the moral value of working hard; that hard work per se leads to spiritual improvement and emotional happiness. It is a belief rooted in the Protestant/Calvinist theory that hard work is a sign of personal salvation and so the only way to prove (if only to oneself) that you are worthy of redemption from mankind’s original sin is to work hard.
There is a disturbing showiness about this; a histrionic martyrdom to drive oneself to ever greater physical and mental stress to demonstrate that you are a worthy human being. This is not a healthy way to exist; it precludes the possibility of developing a calm inner world, because of its emphasis on making ever greater personal sacrifices in the temporal world. Working so hard that you lack the time to think about yourself is not the same as being happy in yourself.
The theory behind the work ethic was gladly co-opted by modern industrial cultures as it provides a ready-made system to keep a workforce happy and contented. Work hard, and you’ll be rewarded… if not with salvation and an afterlife, at least with a promotion, a corner office and a healthy pension pot. This work ethic is a system of control that binds and blinds people to the life they are leading.
What is the alternative? I would argue it is to value personal development and internal esoteric knowledge rather than work and exoteric stress. Working hard has no value in and of itself. But hard work done in the service of understanding and the development of personal insight and emotional maturity has massive utility. Insight is the first step towards deciding what you value the most, and so taking the first steps down the road to individuation and an inner sense of tranquillity.
It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly. And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life.
- Epicurus
‘The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.’ – Albert Camus
PS – I have assumed that the picture is of Sisyphus.
Yes, it is indeed Sisyphus; it seemed an appropriate illustration.
The Camus quote is apposite too; thank you!
Ahh Sisyphus.
But it’s not just work, imho – it’s everything that society says you should want including (controversially?) families (ie marriage and children). I have friends who have worked, had kids, balanced the two and who are miserable. Many of them think they have ticked the boxes – why aren’t they happy? They work hard at work and/or they work very hard as parents and yet it doesn’t give them the fulfillment they expect to automatically receive.
It’s far too easy to build a prison for yourself simply by doing what others tell you will make you happy.
Great post as always. thanks!
“not just work”… spot on!
These societal constructs are all terribly damaging, especially if one has a different sense of priorities or a different understanding of what is important in life. If you are one of these people, and try to buy into the generally-accepted societal models, one generally will struggle to fully engage with them. It just won’t make emotional sense.
But it’s very difficult to swim against the tide, especially if you’ve never known anything different or if you lack the resources (emotional, financial, whatever) to support that swimming against the current. Result = many people feeling trapped and alone.
The best way out I think is to try to learn as much about many things as possible, to deepen one’s understanding of oneself, and thus to build up the courage to step outside the mainstream safely.
Came to this via clicking on your today’s post, with the beautiful photo of the golden yellow rapefields.
This morning we sat for almost 2 hours on the tiny patio of our rented house in Arizona and looked at the mountains, which sat there massively doing nothing at all.
The only sound: mourning doves, tiny insects, occasional chirps of unknown origin. The silence and looming presence of the mountains —
We did nothing. And everything.
Needless to say, loved this post and figured it’s never too late to say so.
Thank you, as always.