It's Monday Again

"If Monday had a face, I would punch it." ~ Unknown

The Word says in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I set before you life and death. Choose life." This truth can be applied to our work and professional life. 

More often than we slow down to realize, God allows us to enter stages of major discomfort to alert us to the fact that He is ready to do a new thing in our lives, to introduce us to a new level. When we are paying attention, we submit to His will and release our strangle hold on that thing that is no longer feeding life into our existence. 

When we are not walking in awareness, we continue to hammer away at holding on to a thing until it all but threatens to choke the very life out of us. How often do we become panic stricken on Sunday night as we begin preparing to invest our energy towards another work week? Yes, Sunday night is when it begins.

"It's just been a long week that's all."
"It's Monday night, Jess."
"My point exactly."
~ Scott Westerfeld

In her book, Thank God It's Monday, Roxanne Emmerick, takes to the mission of making us so excited about our work, we cannot wait for Monday to arrive. In her writing, she suggests the reasons at the root of this dread as boredom, drama, commute, and being overwhelmed. As the means to remedy these concerns she offers, choosing a pet project at work as a distraction, networking with others in your field outside your place of employ, asking for assistance, and adding a personal touchstone item from home to your work space.

Of course discovering the work that brings us the greatest amount of joy and seeking a means to commit our days to it would be the ultimate solution. Take time to listen and awaken to what the Creator is speaking. 

Choose life in your work.

"When you start to do things that you truly love, it wouldn't matter whether it is Monday or Friday; you would be so excited to wake up each morning to work on your passions." ~ Edmund Mbiaka

Is your current vocation speaking life to your existence?
Do you face Monday mornings with dread?
What is the Creator speaking to you concerning your career direction?

Meaningful Work

"Deprived of meaningful work, men and women lose their reason for existence; they go stark, raving mad."    ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

Approaching the autumnal season can bring on significant shifts in our lives. As many plan a return to business as usual following a few weeks vacation, others are entering a stage of reinvention in work and career life, embarking upon altogether new vocational challenges.

Work can become a four letter word or that thing that adds purpose and worth to your existence. Whatever your circumstance, consider your definition of work and where it fits into your life spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Job satisfaction can mean a great deal more than a hefty pay check. Though a more than adequate salary can soften the blows of unhappiness at work for a time, toiling in malcontent hours each day that stretch into days each year can weigh upon the spirit  inviting sickness and disease. It is a sad story to tell of those who spend their entire working life unfulfilled to be afforded just a few years of long sought retirement. 

The definition of responsible adult means our priorities lean toward the practical matters of provision and protection when we have family to consider. Admittedly it is difficult to change course midstream due to lack of joy in your work when you have a mortgage and children to feed, clothe, and educate.

But what of the possibilities if you were to even consider dusting off the dreams and passions you cast off or put aside for whatever the reasons. This may be your season to revisit, to reinvent, and re-envision.

"Don't worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally come."    ~ Oprah Winfrey

How do you define the meaning of work in your life?
Does your current work and career situation energize you or do you feel drained by it?
If a change in vocation is what you seek, what has kept you from moving in that direction?