Responsibilty and Satisfaction in Work

Reading Response for Mindfulness and Meaningful Work by Claude Whitmyer

Whitmyer's analysis of the Buddhist "work ethic" was very enlightening and eye-opening. I was excited to read something from another perspective than Christianity.

"The more responsibility I was given, the more fulfilling the work became." This quote by Whitmyer struck me the moment I read it and stayed in the back of my mind as I continued to read. As I read through Thich Nhat Hanh's "story" about the interdependence that goes into a sheet of paper, I was intrigued by the connections he made, and the seriousness with which he took the smallest thing. However, I was unsure how this story about a sheet of paper could be related to finding satisfaction through responsibility in work.

Then I realized that the overarching themes between these two things were mindfulness and personal investment. If one considers the countless factors and conditions necessary for production of something as seemingly insignificant as a sheet of paper and realizes the interdependence of everything in the universe, then he can begin to see himself as a key component in the grand scheme of things. Not as Adam Smith's meaningless "cog in the wheel," but as a part of the whole web of interdependence, the products of which would be lost if one piece were out of place. With this in mind, how can one envision himself, or others, as useless or meaningless? Then, if one felt as though he were truly a valuable piece of the greater whole, he would naturally feel more satisfied with his work if he were given responsibility - the opportunity to decide for himself just what his piece of the whole would be.

Perhaps if employers and managers believed that everything and everyone was interdependent, and no one could survive with out others, then they would be more mindful of their employees and take the time to make sure that they are being given opportunities for responsibility. When one is mindful of his role in the whole and is willing to invest time and energy into his role, then he would not cease to be satisfied in his work. As Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." We should all look for meaning in our work, rather than hoping it will be handed to us on a silver platter.