One day I was talking to one of my cousin who works
in a leading multinational bank. He was
mentioning that over the years there has
been increase in number of individuals taking
sabbatical for few years and pursue activities
of their choice. According to many it was nice
phenomena. Personally I had different view.
Reason people take complete sabbatical from
their occupation is because they work very
hard, for long hours and with stress.
Eventually when they get burnt out they quit
work and then go on to do things of their
choice.
This kind of extreme behavior is not ideal for
an individual. Preferably there should be mix
of work, pleasure and rest.
Once i visited a house owner to a beautiful
place. Owners of the house was saying that
they get lot of young couples who visit them
during long weekends and spend most time
sleeping. According to them these couples
spend long hours at work while they are
working and when they get time to holiday,
they catch up on sleep. Sleep is a source of
energy. If we are deprived of it, functioning
of our body will suffer. When people work for
long hours they are deprived of sleep. If that
happens for prolonged period of time physical
and mental disturbances arise.
Somewhere in mid 80s and 90s a thought
process was beginning to develop whereby it
was felt that money was must to enjoy life.
This was the time when materialism was
gaining momentum. Large corporate realized
this. They lured individuals with higher pay.
However no businessman pays more, unless
he is able to extract that kind of returns – in
fact if he is not getting desired returns, he
will lay-off people. Corporates started making
individuals do double the amount of work.
Since materialistic possession were
considered source of happiness people were
willing to do more work than their body could
withstand. Things did not stop there.
Corporates also started propagating careers
that would pay more. Parents started
encouraging children to choose those careers
where there was possibility of more earning.
It was not felt important to choose career
which child enjoyed. It is obvious that doing
things which we do not enjoy is going to
cause stress. More importantly if we have to
do that activity for long hours. Stress so
created may get relived by shopping,
sabbaticals, some form of materialisms etc.
This will give temporary relief but not a
permanent solution.
Permanent solution is in doing things which
we like, what we enjoy. I have observed
many individuals, who enjoy what they are
doing. Initially they may not be earning
sufficient but because they enjoy work they
are able to hang-in there. Also because they
enjoy work they never compromise on quality
of work. We all know good quality work will
reward over a period time and this is what
happens to them as well. Eventually they
make money.
One of the litmus test to verify whether we
are enjoying our work or not is to ask this
question, when do we want to retire? If we
are looking forward to early retirement it
means we are not enjoying work. If our work
is giving us enjoyment, then why on earth
would we want to stop pursuing it and retire?
Taking first step could be difficult – pursuing
things which may not be necessarily paying
well but we enjoy doing it. However believe
me later it will pay,may or may not financially but ,
emotionally, physically and even socially for sure.
One last thing for our parents I know you care for your
child and wish their betterment but it is he/she who has to
live his life so let him/her decide his passion don't thrash him
to a place where life would be so miserable.
in a leading multinational bank. He was
mentioning that over the years there has
been increase in number of individuals taking
sabbatical for few years and pursue activities
of their choice. According to many it was nice
phenomena. Personally I had different view.
Reason people take complete sabbatical from
their occupation is because they work very
hard, for long hours and with stress.
Eventually when they get burnt out they quit
work and then go on to do things of their
choice.
This kind of extreme behavior is not ideal for
an individual. Preferably there should be mix
of work, pleasure and rest.
Once i visited a house owner to a beautiful
place. Owners of the house was saying that
they get lot of young couples who visit them
during long weekends and spend most time
sleeping. According to them these couples
spend long hours at work while they are
working and when they get time to holiday,
they catch up on sleep. Sleep is a source of
energy. If we are deprived of it, functioning
of our body will suffer. When people work for
long hours they are deprived of sleep. If that
happens for prolonged period of time physical
and mental disturbances arise.
Somewhere in mid 80s and 90s a thought
process was beginning to develop whereby it
was felt that money was must to enjoy life.
This was the time when materialism was
gaining momentum. Large corporate realized
this. They lured individuals with higher pay.
However no businessman pays more, unless
he is able to extract that kind of returns – in
fact if he is not getting desired returns, he
will lay-off people. Corporates started making
individuals do double the amount of work.
Since materialistic possession were
considered source of happiness people were
willing to do more work than their body could
withstand. Things did not stop there.
Corporates also started propagating careers
that would pay more. Parents started
encouraging children to choose those careers
where there was possibility of more earning.
It was not felt important to choose career
which child enjoyed. It is obvious that doing
things which we do not enjoy is going to
cause stress. More importantly if we have to
do that activity for long hours. Stress so
created may get relived by shopping,
sabbaticals, some form of materialisms etc.
This will give temporary relief but not a
permanent solution.
Permanent solution is in doing things which
we like, what we enjoy. I have observed
many individuals, who enjoy what they are
doing. Initially they may not be earning
sufficient but because they enjoy work they
are able to hang-in there. Also because they
enjoy work they never compromise on quality
of work. We all know good quality work will
reward over a period time and this is what
happens to them as well. Eventually they
make money.
One of the litmus test to verify whether we
are enjoying our work or not is to ask this
question, when do we want to retire? If we
are looking forward to early retirement it
means we are not enjoying work. If our work
is giving us enjoyment, then why on earth
would we want to stop pursuing it and retire?
Taking first step could be difficult – pursuing
things which may not be necessarily paying
well but we enjoy doing it. However believe
me later it will pay,may or may not financially but ,
emotionally, physically and even socially for sure.
One last thing for our parents I know you care for your
child and wish their betterment but it is he/she who has to
live his life so let him/her decide his passion don't thrash him
to a place where life would be so miserable.
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