Surviving A Useless Life

[ACS67]

Try talking to an Opus Dei priest.  If you are not near one, email them.  They are more than happy to help and respond readily.  From St. Josemaria Escriva

 

Those who want to live their Faith perfectly and to do apostolate according to the spirit of Opus Dei, must sanctify themselves with their work, must sanctify their work and sanctify others through their work. It is while they work alongside their equals, their fellow workers from whom they are in no way different, they strive to identify themselves with Christ, imitating His thirty years in the workshop in Nazareth.

Ordinary work is not only the context in which they should become holy. It is the ‘raw material’ of their holiness. It is there in the ordinary happenings of their day’s work that they discover the hand of God and find the stimulus for their life of prayer. This same professional job brings them into contact with other people — relatives, friends, colleagues — and with the great problems which affect their society and the world at large; and it affords them the opportunity to live that self-giving in the service of others which is essential for Christians. This is where they should strive to give a true and genuine witness to Christ so that all may get to know and love our Lord and discover that their normal life in the world, their everyday work, can be an encounter with God

 [...]

I said then, as I do now, that we must love the world, because it is in the world that we meet God: God shows Himself, He reveals Himself to us in the happenings and events of the world.

Good and evil are mixed in human history, and therefore Christians should be people of sound judgment. But this judgment should never bring us to deny the goodness of God’s works. On the contrary, it should bring us to recognize the hand of God working through all human actions, even those which betray our fallen nature. You could make a good motto for Christian life out of these words of St Paul: ‘All things are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s’ (1 Cor 3:22-23), and so carry out the plans of that God whose will it is to save the world.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2013 by ACS67

[To Jesus Through Mary]

Era- the only practical advice I can offer is try reading some of St. Josemaria Escriva. I found his writing very helpful seeing the sanctity in the mundane of life and maybe to follow that up by seeking the advice of a spiritual director. I mean maybe you aren't where God wants you and that is why you aren't finding fulfillment. Might be worth discerning. I dunno, everyone situation is different. But I felt much the same when I was going through a pretty hefty depression. If you are, remember it will pass. :) Anyway, I will be praying for you. I mean that sincerely. 

[Era Might]

I worked myself earlier this winter/spring to the point of depression and burnout. I do not like my current job but I'm learning to persevere until I find another one. I think Noel is right about learning to enjoy the little things. And even though the work isn't fulfilling at times, I try to find meaning day to day through the people I work with. Even if it's just a smile and asking them how their day has been.

 

And while it IS true that not everyone finds that "passion" -- that's kind of an elusive thing for most people. I work in a career that I enjoy, as a designer and artist, but even then sometimes I think, what is the POINT? A lot of the work I do in graphic design is just ads and a bunch of throwaway gunk.

 

I think, work is good. But I think the phrase "we work to live, not live to work" does hold true. Letting our lives revolve around our work and putting it as central in importance in our lives isn't really sustaining. But even if you don't find purpose in your job, the fact that it does pay bills and feed mouths does give it some purpose. You work so that you can more or less enjoy your life and not the unpleasant alternative when we don't have work.

 

Oh blessed perseverance of the donkey that turns the water-wheel! Always the same pace. Always the same circles. One day after another: everyday the same. Without that, there would be no ripeness in the fruit, nor blossom in the orchard, nor scent of flowers in the garden. Carry this thought to your interior life.
The Way, 998

 

I'm not really into Opus Dei but I always liked that Escriva quote.

 

Yeah I was thinking on my drive home and it's not really the work I dislike so much as the company...not just company, but corporate culture in general. Companies are big, slow, and useless. I don't have any interest in office politics or waiting around for the company to think up what it wants to do. It's not just this company, but everywhere else I've worked....it's just the way companies are. If I was the kind of person who just wanted to collect a check and get paid, it would be great...but I don't think that way.

[Era Might]

If you could work somewhere else and pay wasn't a problem, what would you do?

 

If pay wasn't a problem I wouldn't work anywhere. I'd just live my life.

[Anastasia13]

If pay wasn't a problem I wouldn't work anywhere. I'd just live my life.

 

How would you live your life? What would you do?

[Gabriela]

Yeah I was thinking on my drive home and it's not really the work I dislike so much as the company...not just company, but corporate culture in general. Companies are big, slow, and useless. I don't have any interest in office politics or waiting around for the company to think up what it wants to do. It's not just this company, but everywhere else I've worked....it's just the way companies are. If I was the kind of person who just wanted to collect a check and get paid, it would be great...but I don't think that way.

 

It sounds like you might do well in a small start-up. They're more responsive, innovative, creative, willing to be daring, MUCH less bureaucratic. Have you looked at job postings in small start-ups? I don't know what industry you're in, but if you do anything that could cross industries (like administrative work or programming), then you've a good chance of finding a start-up with a company culture that appeals to you.

[Gabriela]

Try talking to an Opus Dei priest.  If you are not near one, email them.  They are more than happy to help and respond readily.  From St. Josemaria Escriva

 

This quote from St. José María also makes a good point: You could try to find joy in your daily work not for your own sake, but for the sake of evangelizing others. Imagine how people would become attracted to you if you showed up every day for work with a positive attitude, a smile, enthusiasm, joy. When they ask how you can possibly be that way, you've a perfect opportunity to share the Gospel.

 

This kills two birds with one stone: You get to give your work meaning AND serve others by finding the meaning in the potential to serve.

[Era Might]

It sounds like you might do well in a small start-up. They're more responsive, innovative, creative, willing to be daring, MUCH less bureaucratic. Have you looked at job postings in small start-ups? I don't know what industry you're in, but if you do anything that could cross industries (like administrative work or programming), then you've a good chance of finding a start-up with a company culture that appeals to you.

 

No, I wouldn't want to work for a startup, too much uncertainty. I'm in Marketing / Communications. I took the initiative last month to write up a formal proposal for what I see as the problem. The owner called a meeting, said he liked what I had to say, blabbered on for an hour but he missed the essence of what I was saying. I was talking to him about business, but he was talking to me about tasks. That makes me angry more than anything, the channels of communication in companies. I don't claim to know everything, in fact I have a whole lot to learn, but I'm not someone to sit and do tasks. Seriously sometimes I just want to throw a chair out the window. I hate the complacency and mediocrity that comes with companies and institutions. Maybe I'm too prideful, but I wasn't born to do tasks...I will do them if they are part of something bigger, but I'm not a busy bee happy to be "on a project" that goes nowhere, watching people in the company who I don't have a clue about business. They know what they do, but they don't know business, they don't have a mind for something beyond their specialty. You can't talk to them on a higher level because it's beyond them, but they're the shotcallers.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Era Might

[Gabriela]

No, I wouldn't want to work for a startup, too much uncertainty. I'm in Marketing / Communications. I took the initiative last month to write up a formal proposal for what I see as the problem. The owner called a meeting, said he liked what I had to say, blabbered on for an hour but he missed the essence of what I was saying. I was talking to him about business, but he was talking to me about tasks. That makes me angry more than anything, the channels of communication in companies. I don't claim to know everything, in fact I have a whole lot to learn, but I'm not someone to sit and do tasks. Seriously sometimes I just want to throw a chair out the window. I hate the complacency and mediocrity that comes with companies and institutions. Maybe I'm too prideful, but I wasn't born to do tasks...I will do them if they are part of something bigger, but I'm not a busy bee happy to be "on a project" that goes nowhere, watching people in the company who I don't have a clue about business. They know what they do, but they don't know business, they don't have a mind for something beyond their specialty. You can't talk to them on a higher level because it's beyond them, but they're the shotcallers.

 

Do you have a Master's? If so, and you have a lot of industry experience, you could try teaching a college class in the evening. It might give more meaning to your life. You would be Boss of the Classroom. Marketing/Communications is one of those fields in which industry experience is highly valued in academia. (I know. I'm a PhD student in Communication.)

[Era Might]

This quote from St. José María also makes a good point: You could try to find joy in your daily work not for your own sake, but for the sake of evangelizing others. Imagine how people would become attracted to you if you showed up every day for work with a positive attitude, a smile, enthusiasm, joy. When they ask how you can possibly be that way, you've a perfect opportunity to share the Gospel.

 

This kills two birds with one stone: You get to give your work meaning AND serve others by finding the meaning in the potential to serve.

 

That's not me. I go to work, keep my head down, and want to get stuff done. I'm not the welcome wagon with a pot of coffee and a smile. Just being honest, that's not me. I hate the socializing and fake smiles that you have to do in the office. I'm not there to make friends.

[CatherineM]

Who ever said your job had to give you meaning? Sometimes a job is just a way to finance your real vocation.

[Gabriela]

Or, hey, start your own business.

[Gabriela]

Who ever said your job had to give you meaning? Sometimes a job is just a way to finance your real vocation.

 

While this is absolutely true, some people find it completely unbearable to spend 8 hours a day in a totally meaningless place. Sounds like that's the case for Era Might.

[Era Might]

Who ever said your job had to give you meaning? Sometimes a job is just a way to finance your real vocation.

 

No, I don't need meaning from my job, just meaningful work. As an analogy, digging ditches in a graveyard could be meaningful work, but if nobody is ever going to be buried, then it changes the nature of the work completely. You're just digging holes in the ground.

[To Jesus Through Mary]

It seems that you really are in a tough spot and not open to much that is said. I am not going to jump on board and join you in saying that life is meaningless. I just left the most meaningful "job" I ever had as a missionary to move in with my brother and his family as he adopts my sisters children. So my life went to crisis pregnancy counseling and working in a very poor parish with kids that were starving to know about Jesus, to cleaning up to cleaning a house, walking a dog, chasing after a bunch of kids, and desperately looking for any place that will hire me. My job has changed, but the meaning of my life has not. God has called me to his service in my family. Sometimes it seems pointless and an uphill battle- I am impatient with the kids, I am lazier then I would like to admit, and struggle to pray everyday. But I am still where God wants me to grow me. It is not pointless. He works ALL things together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those are not empty words promised in Scripture... just ask any believer who has gone through a major trial in their life. This is not to compare tit-for-tat. Or to say that "Hey look at me- if I can do it so can you!" Era, you are going through a very rough and dark time. God will use this for good. It is a huge act of trust in Him when things seem dark. There is hope. Not warm fuzzies or rainbows- but a raw belief that God will fulfill the desires of your heart. And that this to shall pass.