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Today's
Meditation:
What
an interesting concept: "to master
themselves." It sounds in a way somewhat rigid,
somewhat controlling. On the other hand, it also
sounds quite necessary if we're ever going to work our way
past some of the obstacles that we face in life. If I
want to excel at the work I do, learning how to do the work
is only half of the battle. Learning how to work
effectively so that I can do a great job is another big part
of the process.
My
stepson tells me of someone who works with him in the
electronics department of a large department store.
This guy, he says, will do a little bit of work and then
spend half an hour watching whatever video happens to be
showing on the display monitor. Obviously he's learned
how to do his job, but his inability to master his own work
habits guarantees that he won't be one of the people who get
promoted any time soon, and if they ever need to cut back on
employees, he'll probably be the first to go.
We
constantly read about people who "burn out" in
their jobs. Unfortunately, they seem to be unable to
manage their time and their work to make sure that they
don't overwork themselves. If they learn how to master
themselves, they probably would be able to spend quite a bit
more time at a job without burning out.
Not
mastering ourselves leads to poor work habits, gossiping,
incomplete work, and high levels of tension and stress on
the job. Mastering ourselves can help us to make sure
that we don't overstep any boundaries that we shouldn't
overstep, and that we excel at the work that we do, rather
than just doing an adequate job. It really is up to us
and the attitude we bring to the jobs we do.
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