Does Your Job Work For You?

Some of us work in totally rubbish jobs; it's a blunt statement, but true.

Disclaimer: 'Rubbish' jobs are completely subjective; read on to find out if you have one.

For many of us, a rubbish job makes us feel as good as dead. Dead inside that is. Our inner beam seems more like a distant memory or lustful hope for the future in such jobs.

Definition of a rubbish job: It could be either poorly paid in a dodgy old building or well renumerated with a whole lot of perks, including a coffee machine in the staff room and air conditioning that keeps the environment at a consistent temperature. A rubbish job could mean that you're on your feet all day, or sitting on your butt. Rubbish jobs come in all shapes and sizes, their only commonalities is that can create feelings of despondency and self-pity, and usually diminished self-love. Hint: If you're experiencing these feelings at work, you might want to read on.

Some experts in the laws of attraction and other such things would suggest that it's a lack of love for oneself that finds us in such a job in the first place. Maybe, or maybe you went in all optimistic and inspired to make a difference, to enjoy the role, and somehow wound up where you are now, on the not so inspired or joyful side of things. So What Happened??

Unfortunately society and workplaces conspire against our sense of joy and freedom. Egos get in the way and start telling stories that our worth is dependant on the outcomes we can produce at work. Employment can become our egos new way to measure our self-worth, and if the environments' not conducive to feeling good, to celebrating individuality, achievement and creativity, well, ouch.

Unfortunately many workplaces are imbalanced with regards to the masculine and feminine energies. I'm not talking about the ratio of men to women, but of the balance between yin and yang, masculine and feminine that exists within all of us and within companies, organisations and communities. In the western world we've long experienced the supression and denial of the feminine and the celebration and endorsement of the masculine. When we have the two in balance, amazing things can be achieved and we experience a sense of health and vitality. When it's out of whack in our work environment, we feel the effects and can begin to feel worn down, hard done by and disappointed. As a result we can either turn our upset inwards or towards external factors- such as blaming the boss and our colleagues.

Turned inwards these feelings can lead us to experience anxiety and depression, outwards they can turn into aggression, anger or physical conditions affecting the heart (all emotions, unexpressed, can become physical and/or mental conditions).

This brings me to why rubbish jobs make for a lack of vitality and well-being. They can eat away at our positivity, joy and energy. They are like sand being sprinkled or poured onto our inner beam, continuing to dampen it over time. Work that we can enjoy, that works for us, that allows us to feel balanced, it can do the very opposite. It assists to fan our inner beam, giving rise to a great flame of passion, energy and vitality.

What kind of work are you experiencing right now? Regardless of the perks, or lack thereof or whether others like it or not, what kind of a work place is it for you? Does it full your beam or dampen it? That's your answer right there.