A survey published on the Figaro website reveals that only 5% of French people are fully satisfied at work. Wherever you are, the figures don’t exceed 18% in so-called “developed” countries, according to the UN. An alarming figure when you consider that, in the Bible, work is considered a blessing. It’s much less surprising, however, when we realize that suffering at work is the consequence of sin’s arrival on earth. So how can we be happy at work? Is it really possible? Yes, it is! All you need to do is follow these 3 steps: be where you’re called to be, change your positioning and perspective on work, and apply some simple principles.
Where are you called to be? Many people work because they have to eat, but without really asking themselves the question: what am I called to do? Frankly, no matter how hard you try to put a square object into a round hole, the only thing you’ll manage to do by forcing it is to damage both the object and the hole! To answer this question and find out what you’re called to be, I invite you to reread this article I wrote a few months ago: https://mailchi.mp/7181426064d2/mon-rve-ma-vision or contact us if you’d like some guidance. Change your position: is work a curse? An obligation? Let’s not forget that God gave Adam and Eve the mandate to govern the earth and take care of it, to cultivate it, before the suffering of work intervened at the fall (coming of sin on earth). Work is a blessing, an opportunity to do what God calls you to do. It’s also a way of fulfilling yourself by contributing to the expansion of His Kingdom, spreading His light, His values and His principles on earth. Work is an opportunity to change thousands of lives around you, and to fulfill yourself by enabling others to fulfill themselves. Apply these few key principles:
Do everything as if for the Lord: wherever you are, do everything as if you were doing it for Him, with the same zeal, the same enthusiasm, the same state of mind.
Give and you shall receive: if you expect recognition from the people to whom you give, you will often be disappointed. God is the rewarder of the just. He sees what you do and is not unjust to forget it. He will honor you, grant you what you need and much more. He is the one who both raises and lowers. For your part, just do your best where you are, acting with humility and respect.
Submit! Ouch, that’s a phrase that’s generally not too loved. I think, however, that’s because it’s not understood, and that many have an overly focused vision without seeing the bigger picture. Everyone’s role is defined according to the call, but implies responsibility. To submit to another is to place oneself under someone else’s mission but also under their protection.
When you take this on board, you see things in a different light and are immediately more inclined to support your manager.
Be a source of influence: you always have the choice between complaining or setting an example. If you want things to go well at work, I invite you to lead by example. Change starts with you, and if you show people something they want, they’ll follow. That’s leadership! Be part of the solution: no organization, no person on this earth is perfect. We all have our faults, and other people really don’t need you to remind them! Instead, they need the solutions you have within you. So provide constructive criticism with solutions, be part of the solution! I’m sure these few keys will help you to blossom! There are many things you need to do, but that’s no reason to say to yourself: it’s my fault again, or it’s up to me to take the next step! That’s just victimization. If you want to bring about change, there are only two solutions: come up with a new way of doing things that respects the environment you’re in, or change your environment. In either case, it’s important to surround yourself with the right advisors and support to make the change easier. In our next Newsletter, we’ll look at some of the keys to surrounding yourself with the right people! To make sure you don’t miss out, be sure to sign up by clicking on “I subscribe” at the end of this article. You can also follow us and share our page on social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and thus benefit from our news by letting others know about it.
See you soon,
You are wonderful!
Joachim Fontaine
Coach | Consultant | Formateur
