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“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” – Buddha
I came across this great quote yesterday and think it really relates to a lot of us who are still trying to figure out what career path to get on (or off of).
I ventured out to Michigan Avenue yesterday after work to use some gift cards that I had been hanging on to since last Christmas. I was excited that the same very sweet sales associate was helping me as last time I went to White House Black Market. I remembered that she was from Ohio and that she was working part-time at WHBM after her day job. We discovered that we both studied Finance at Miami of Ohio-small world! She also started telling me about her financial analyst job at a huge well known company, life 6 months after graduating college, along with her constant questioning of her career path and future.
It was great to talk to someone who was fresh out of school going and through the same stuff that most recent grads go through. Common side effects of being 22 include: lack of money, confusion, busy work with a fancy job title, holding 2 jobs and constant questioning. It seems that many of us spend so much time worrying about the present and the future that we can’t enjoy being 22 (or 24, or 26…).
It was easy for me to tell my new friend that she was doing GREAT and not to worry for the time being. At the same time, most of us are questioning what we really want to do with our career.
And that’s where Buddha comes in: “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” – Buddha
Why not make our twenties simple and just accept that this age is about discovering what work we want to do? Accepting the uncertainty is much easier than fighting it every day. Once we can accept this “discovery period” and stop worrying about it, our brains will actually have time to think about what career is best for us. From there, you can spend the next several decades pursuing what you love.
The problem lies in those who worry their way through life and never stop to discover their work. Without the discovery period you will not be able to fully give yourself to your work.
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Comments
12.31.69
12.05.08
I always thought the quote was "Your work is to discover your world" not "work." That would definitely change the focus of what our life's work is to be. I'm not sure that Buddha would be all about figuring out what kind of job or career you want to have. In my study of Buddhism, it's been more about how you fit into the world, the broader scope of things, what's really important in life, etc.
I've seen that variation of the quote, but always assumed that it was a bad translation. I wonder if one is correct, or if both are acceptable translations. Just curious. Hate to see Buddha misquoted. ;)
12.05.08
Ok. After reading your last post and now this one, I have to ask you to please get out of my head. LOL.
The 12 months between my 24th and 25th birthday were all about discovering this truth. Since I have, I have become so much more happy and liberated.
I think the word "work" is sometimes used to narrowly. For me personally, I can interpret "work" here to mean purpose. Because when you live on purpose, nothing that happens to you is a mistake. That's just my belief.
Anywhoo, kudos, Miss for this post ;-)
12.05.08
Why do you have to follow a single career for decades?
12.05.08
Wonderfully well written post Nicole. I love your insight. Let's hope our fellow twenty-somethings are thinking the same thing...
12.06.08
I have had this in mind for a long time. I am 35, and I still don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't think I ever will.
At this point, I feel that actually, the people you work with and your boss determine your entire work situation.
I had nasty bosses for years. When I moved on, it turned out that they really valued my work, but they thought that being nasty was the only thing to _motivate_ me. The opposite is actually the case. I'd move mountains for a nice boss, but with a nasty one, I'll merely do the job while looking to move on.
I had the a nice boss for the first time in my life last year at a temp job. This made me realize that I'm actually a great employee and the only problem with my "career" is that I always had crappy bosses.
This leads me to just look for a nice boss no matter what the field. I keep reading about following one's passion, but I don't have one in the traditional sense. I want to write novels. But I have to feed myself first. Does this make me some kind of fraud like an illegitimate worker?
All around me, I feel that most people are _not_ following their passion. They seem to be happier than the ones who actually were following their passion, the scientists I worked under. The scientists seemed to be bent out of shape at the smallest thing, while the passionless people seemed to be more relaxed.
To answer KateNonymous, and note, I did jump around quite a bit. It's a terrible idea, I believe. The reason you follow a single career is if you'd like to make the most money you can for your position and have the most autonomy. If you are not interested in those things than jump from career to career like I did. You will constantly be entry level with peers who are ten years younger than you. Your intelligence, experience, and other skills will not matter at all as you receive the same pay and respect as someone who just got out of college.
12.06.08
This post really reveals that work isn't just one thing, one way. There's much more to it. Lots of serendipity and perhaps less planning than we wish. Worry? Dump it and enjoy where you are to the best of your ability. There will be many opportunities.
12.06.08
Thanks for all the comments! My sincerest apologies if I mis-represented Buddha in any way.
Leeroy- I sense a bit of self-doubt from your post. If you truly believe you will never find your passion, then you won't. You are the only one who can hold yourself back!
The scientists you mentioned probably have a completely different personality type in that they feel the most fulfilled when they presented with a complicated challenge or can become absorbed in the details of their experiments. You however, might be fulfilled via compliments, social interaction or teamwork. Figure out what motivates and fulfills you you and go after it!
11.16.09
It is indeed a very debatable issue. Unfortunately, most of us have to make a career choice, when we are too young and immature. For many, the choice will be influenced by the family, wishing to help. It is not easy to accept that you don’t like medicine after seven years in college, but when you realise it what do you do? Obviously it makes sense trying to find something you like about this job or to have a career change. I think there is no right or wrong answer, as each person is individual, but what is important is trying to enjoy the work you do, even if you have the worst job. Like you I recently talked to a young man at the till. He graduated this summer and has a Degree in Civil Engineering, but due to the credit crunch he is unable to find a relevant position, so he is working at the till at the greengrocers. Can he accept it, unlikely, but as he said it, it pays the bills for now and actually he is trying to like it. Jill from premium dry dog food.
10.22.10
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01.27.11
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