Does real happiness at work exist?
It may seem like a pipe dream, something distant in the future, or a possibility with a change in career.
In 2006, my workaholic behaviors were taking a serious negative toll on my health, mental state, and marriage.
I sought help with a therapist who asked me if I could do anything for work, what would I do?
I responded I would like to be a coffee shop singer, but that wouldn’t provide the same compensation I was receiving + benefits. 🙂
That may or may not be true, and I placed big limits on myself, big limits of what is possible, and clung to feelings of what I knew – even if all I knew was struggle – for safety.
Shortly after this conversation, I had to take my first medical leave of absence from work.
I came back after 7 weeks, took a voluntary demotion, and worked part-time for 5 months.
I kept getting worse. Then I took another medical leave of absence.
This time for 7 months.
One of the most humbling experiences of my life was re-entering the same workplace after my medical leave.
I stayed with the same employer for 5 more years.
I knew real happiness needed to come from inside of me.
Work was not the problem.
The intense culture was not the problem.
My husband was not the problem.
I was the problem.
Real happiness at work for me happened when I experienced inner peace regardless of my external circumstances.
This took a long time for me. I had to let go of self-importance and some relationships.
I had to take full responsibility of my life, my actions, my circumstances, and my feelings.
I had to learn to orient myself to love instead of fear.
I had to learn how to navigate my truth in a work culture that supported different values than mine.
Real happiness at work?
What do you think is possible?
Sharon Salzberg, a leading meditation teacher and author of ‘Real Happiness at Work’ recently led a free 15 minute meditation for our group of professional women.
Sharon Salzberg led a free meditation call for our group of professional women. Click here to join our private Facebook group.
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