22. November 2009 by Da Fu.

Most people do not understand or know their work. They know their job but their job is entirely different from their work. Understanding ones work is key to a happy, fulfilling life.

A job is what one does to earn income to meet the basic needs of daily living. It is well known that happiness rises with increased earnings up to about $50,000 per year and that more than $100,000 per year does NOT increase happiness. Yet, 40% of American earn less than $18,000 per year. In a country that prides itself in the “pursuit of happiness”, it is paradoxical that many full time and hard working Americans cannot earn enough to meet basic their needs and be happy. The cannot devote time to their work even if they wanted to.

Ones work is what one was put on this earth to do. One knows it is their work because it makes them happy. Many times ones job is what ones work is believed to be. If true, there is synergy between job and work and the person is happy. Yet, even when there is synergy the job frequently becomes more important than work. In this circumstances, work loses out and happiness decreases.

For many, their job and work are not synergistic. Women who feel their work is their family or home are force to leave them for jobs. Conversely, many women whose job is their family or home are not able to leave to do their work. Many men do not spend time at their work because they get focused on earning more income from their job. Not attending to work is tantamount to ignoring an important part of ones psyche.

One’s success should be measured against ones potential. Work is what we were born to do and not having our basic needs meets cripples our work. “Starving Artists” and callings to ministries and charities are examples of persons picking work over jobs. But the vast majority do not have the wherewithal to pick work over jobs. It is a societal obligation to provide everyone a job that earns enough to allow work.

Yet, enough income does not guarantee that work will be done. Many wealthy and money hoarding people never do their work and believing their incomes measure their success. Philanthropy is a way some of them do their work. But, many never address their work and they are unhappy since their money cannot buy happiness.

Not knowing or addressing ones work has led to pervasive angst. This makes jobs unsatisfying. Enlightened employers know that happy employees lead to better job performance and allow their employees to incorporate work into their jobs. Synergy is key and whatever it takes to do ones work should be a focus.

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16. October 2009 by Da Fu.

The statement “what we all have in common is that each one of us is unique” begs the question who each one us is. Other questions include: Is each of our psyche unique? Is so, why do we all fall in love, have sex and want families? Who are we…as individuals. My perspective on my totality (”My Psyche”) includes the following triad: my character (”Me”), my personality (”I”) and my unconscious (”My Self”)

The “Me” is who I believe I am and how I feel I am, i.e., my character. My honesty, perseverance, loyalty, tolerance, competitiveness, athleticism, etc. are qualities of my character and direct my feelings about me. They are how I see me.

The “I” is the part of my totality that relates to the outside world thus it is what others see of Me, i.e., my personality. My wit, charm, politeness, fine penmanship, cleanliness, etc. are qualities that others easily see and relate to. I present these qualities to the world.

There can be discordance between the I and ME. Many have secret characteristics for which they compensate in their personalities. For example, the Me is a messy while the I is not. The I is highly “moral” while the Me craves “immoral” acts. As a rule, it is impossible for the I to always compensate for a different Me.

“My Self” is my unconscious and it only sporadically messages the Me and I through dreams, voices, synchronicity and archetypes like the anima/animus, Mother, Father, Shadow. My Self sees everything but the I and Me do not. The Self is the source of micro-expessions, “gut feeling” and premonitions. My Self is as vast inwardly and the Universe is outwardly. It became unconscious as to not overwhelm the I and Me. Nevertheless, My Self is where my desires for love, sex and family arise.

The Me, My Self and I comprise my totality–my psyche. Only when we live in harmony with this triad will we be in the world in good faith to one’s Slef. An if we can’t be in the world in good faith…then what can we be?

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