What Does Work And Money Afford Us?

There is no denying the importance of finding work that is aligned to our core values and beliefs. But further to that, why do we work and what does it afford us? Many of us will respond to the question of “why we work” with answers like: to be productive, to connect with others, to create something of value, and/or to solve a problem or need in the world. But how many of us recognise how work is able to help us understand who we are, our talents, and provide us with opportunities to develop ourselves intellectually, socially, physically?

Answering “why we work” is only one part of a greater equation though. Where earning an income is the main outcome of working, many of us struggle to understand what the resource of money actually pays for in the areas of life we need and want, or in what helps us to sustain change and our own evolution. But how many of us have the financial fitness or literacy we require to align what we do with how we want to live?

Being able to set our own financial and occupational goals based on the direction we have set, helps to liberate us from the need to continuously problem solve the life we find ourselves in -often based on unattainable standards or comparisons we make against others. It’s in answering these questions along with, what are the things that make us truly happy, which give us greater freedom and the ability to live within our means, and the opportunity to take ownership of our own “good enough” and desires.

Why Purpose Matters

Purpose is something we do or something we create — not something we buy, inherit or achieve. Purpose could be a direction in which we’re heading with some degree of intention. It’s a far-reaching steady goal, that is personally meaningful and self-transcending and, ideally, is evident in our everyday life.

Purpose is like that picture on the cover of the puzzle box. We can spend a lot of time staring at the pieces and trying to fit them together, but it’s the picture that guides us. Purpose is our bigger picture, our reason for being, and the thing that steers us in the direction we’re heading even in the absence of us knowing exactly where we’ll end up. To complete our life’s puzzle, we need to reference that box top more often than we might expect.

Participation in meaningful occupations (the things we do to occupy and look after ourselves, things we enjoy, and what we might do to contribute to the social and economic fabric of our communities) is a big part of our puzzle. Engaging in activities and relationships that matter to us, whether in work or play, increases our sense of fullfilment and balance in the daily routine of life. It also boosts our capacity to connect with others, allows us greater personal agency and chance to live a life of consequence.

Occupational Therapist as Coach

Finding balance, our own personal wellbeing and connection with others has become characterised by the pursuit of feel good activities/experiences, clean living ideals and social media. But what is achieved and why does it matter?  

Allocating time and attributing value to understanding who we are, our sense of purpose, and what motivates us can be challenging, especially when we look around and find that much of society often insists that working towards material or experiential goals are enough to give us a sense of a life worth lived. How do we find and develop our ability to intrinsically motivate ourselves?

As Occupational Therapists (OT), we come from a holistic perspective where supporting clients to develop purpose and engage in meaningful activities are at the core of what we do. This means, that as well as understanding the occupational nature of human beings, we also understand the importance of having purpose and goals, and how our physical health and mental wellbeing can impact our ability to engage in occupations that we want to, need to, or are expected to do.  This understanding of the complex relationship between occupation, health and wellbeing enables us to help people transform their lives and work towards their potential.

It is both a challenging and freeing process to talk to someone about working towards what we truly want. An opportunity to understand which of our occupations are meaningful and purposeful versus the ones which are misguided, where our time and energy could be better utilised. Each one of us has a set of values based on our experience, preferences, abilities and what gives us energy. The process of change, identifying whom we’ve been and who we’re transforming into is not an easy one. Finding the right person(s) who can understand and support you through the challenge of building a well-lived and personally joyful life is the #lifegoal.

Occupation and Purpose Coaching

People tell us three different types of stories; the stories that society has told them, the stories they tell themselves, and the stories that emerge when uncovering what is true and at the core of each individual.

Each of these stories have a purpose and are important, and none of them can exist in isolation.

These stories are informed by where a person has come from, where they’ve been, how they see themselves, what they hope for, and most importantly, what they expect for/from themselves and the world.

To rewrite the stories we tell ourselves, we have to challenge the expectations that we have and come to accept emotional states that are often uncomfortable and can cause momentary paralysis - fear of failure, insecurity, and potential for loneliness. This is our most authentic and vulnerable self. The flow on effect is a sense of personal freedom and understanding of how we want to be in the world and navigating the changes that are necessary.

Is it therapy? Is it counselling? Is it coaching? Is it directive? Is it helping people to draw out their own wisdom? It’s all of them, used at different times as we support people to redesign their life, trial new experiences and ways of being, and forge a path towards their future. Aside from our knowledge and experience as occupational therapists, our most fundamental role is to understand the components and expression of the person in front of us. From that understanding comes the co-creation of a life with purpose and lived with potential in mind.