Tao of Work.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

'They who have attained perfection, are those who take joy in their work'.

Bhaghavad Gita

The Tao, means life-force, energy and the universe beyond. It also means the way, or path. Therefore ones vocation is also called their Tao. It is important that you face up to and accept your personal tao. It reflects your chosen vocation, what you are really good and a career path that you can follow and grow.

If you already know your tao, then great! Keep going! If you are just working to pay the bills and you dislike your job, getting on the right path might be a bit trickier. If you are unemployed but have other means, it could be as simple as sitting down from 9-5 to paint, write, program, design etc. Then you will be surprised at how everything falls into place.

Otherwise maybe your parents can support you while you get on your feet. Or you could support yourself, with bartending or taxi driving. If you need to study then you will need to be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices for a few years to focus on that.

For people already on their path, they say that 10,000 hours of practice makes an expert. So you could write, teach, do further study, or perhaps even retire and take a cruise.

You might need to try a few options and there is going to be a risk involved. If you give somehing a chance and perservere, the tao will also reveal to you, your 'self' which is another way of communing with God.

If you have made mistakes, the wrong degree, the wrong job, apart from being as positive as you can, where you are now, there are stepping stones to help you find your way. One reason might be denial, you have to accept who you are and what you do, for that is your destiny.

So if you can make something your practise, not necessarily what your parents want or a rationalisation of what you should do, you have to dig for that tiny seed inside you, find your daimon, and tend to it.

Career quizzes, councellors and friends can help you find your way. There is even a DNA test available from professional laboritories, that claim to tell you which career best suits your brain. If you're interested in that, then you could try that.
Then all you have to do is show up and do your duty, so that everthing else falls into place.

A note on the subject, that if you do more than one thing. Some people do more than one thing, and that is quite all right. Don't get too hung up on doing one thing, if you need to do more than one thing and that is just the way you are and you keep freaking out about the one thing, well supposing, you just do. Well that's even better because one thing might be inspiration for another. Or you need a change, Or your part-time job is your bread and butter, well obviously be grateful and accept your part-time job that also supports your art, your family, and the rest. The tao of work is all about your personal and professional fulfillment, to bring you joy.