Crises and Bottlenecks vs. Letting Go and Getting Motivated

In the long journey of a career one may face numerous crises and obstacles in the workplace, regardless of whether it is a young person first entering the job market, a 9-to-5 office worker, or an experienced middle-aged supervisor. The advent of crisis is actually a signal that reminds us to re-adjust our goals, meaning, and life values. Only through completely letting go and getting ourselves motivated can we cross workplace hurdles with self-improvement.

Over the long course of a working life, some people lose their passion and vigor for work, turning their job into sheer labor and burden. This causes their everyday life to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of meaninglessness. Some people are forced to retire early due to inexorable reasons in a rapidly changing commercial environment, or even lose their job, due to changes in the nature of the enterprise they work for. These "changing" and "unchanging" aspects in the workplace may transform into crises and bottlenecks for some, trapping them in a dilemma where they can neither move forward nor retreat.

Regardless of whether holding a role as a young adult starting out, an office worker who has been in the workforce for some time, a supervisor, or even a business owner, people may feel a sense of crisis when work is no longer in line with their chosen goals and values. The teaching of Chan guides people to constantly be aware of the "self." Starting from being aware of the egocentric self, to the altruistic self, to obliterating the self, is an ongoing process of "letting go." When having crises and bottlenecks in the workplace, it is actually time for us to re-examine ourselves as well as the meaning of our work. Only through completely letting go of the old self can we truly start anew, as well as get through the darkness in the workplace with willpower and motivation.
 

Occupational burnout withers motivation

Clock in, clock out, day after day. For the 9-to-5 office workers who have been in the workforce for years, the workplace crisis that lurks in their seemingly stable career is the onrush of occupational burnout. Once job burnout occurs without timely treatment, people might turn themselves into a lifeless working machine, unable to gain a sense of fulfillment from their work. People who are trapped in chronic weariness and burnout in the workplace have a hard time getting motivated, which leads them to lose their vitality and shine.

As Dr. Yang Bei (楊蓓) wrote in her article, "Workplace burnout is actually a signal, a product of disappointment, and a reaction reflecting one's helplessness derived from a lack of control at the workplace." How do we overcome job burnout? As Dr. Yang pointed out in her article, the most important thing is to reflect on the meaning that our dedication can bring to ourselves and the people around us. Once we change our perspectives, we will realize that our work can actually benefit ourselves and others. In this way, we are more likely to let go of the weariness and burnout at work.

Venerable Guo Shiin (果醒法師) of Dharma Drum Mountain also has some insights into the issue of "lack of motivation." According to Ven. Guo Shiin, Buddhist monastics actually encounter this barrier as well. As monastics are used to the quiet setting of a Chan hall, they are likely to indulge in the joy and tranquility gained from meditation. Once they have to face the crowd or interact with the laity, a sense of avoidance and resistance might arise, making it hard for them to get motivated. He pointed out that the reason people have low motivation is because they attempt to avoid their responsibilities. In order to regain the motivation to take on responsibilities, in addition to pushing themselves, it is more important to change the mindset. On the other hand, if we are having burnout and low motivation, pushing ourselves to take responsibility at the beginning is one of the ways to shake off the sense of burnout. At the same time, it is also necessary to reacquaint ourselves with our own job responsibilities.


Philosophy of survival in times of crisis

In the wave of globalization, competition is becoming increasingly fierce. As a result, the economic environment has become more volatile, making the career of an individual more uncertain and uncontrollable. For example, in the high-tech industry, more and more engineers are forced to retire in their forties. Furthermore, for corporate managers who are responsible for a company's financial losses, it is not easy to let go of their concerns about gain and loss in the fierce competition of the industry. In an era of crisis, people inevitably experience more crises both in the workplace and in life, leading individuals to experience self-doubt and even self-denial. The inner turmoil, coupled with the pressure from the environment, is enough to make people lose the courage to face them.

As Master Sheng Yen indicated in his book The World of Chan, "We should let go of the phenomena that arise from the gathering and scattering of cause and conditions, and take on the belief in the cycle of cause and effect." From the Buddhist perspective, the occurrence of everything is a result of various karmic causes and conditions. This is especially true in a time of crisis, where we do not have complete control over the success or failure of anything. Therefore, when we cannot turn things around despite our best effort, we should accept the fact and let go of our concerns about gain and loss in addition to our sense of frustration. Sometimes, we even have to let go of our rich experiences and former glories, and not be attached to the past. Only through completely letting go of all the bad and good experiences can we start anew.



Related articles:

Chan Practice for a Happier Workplace

Efficiency and Speed vs. Relaxation and Concentration: Work Efficiently in a Relaxed Mood

Relaxation and Concentration as a Path to Self-Healing

Conflict and Competition vs. Cessation and Contemplation

Crises and Bottlenecks vs. Letting Go and Getting Motivated



Resource: Issue 271 of Humanity Magazine (March 2006), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation and illustration: Li Siang-ling(李祥苓)
Editing: Keith Brown, 可馨