690. Passion is performing a work that satisfies the Self……

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/passion-is-performing-a-work-that-satisfies-the-self

It is always a difficult decision to make if one is asked to choose between a satisfying career with low paid salary and an unsatisfying career with a high paid salary. A few go on to choose the high paid salary career job depending upon their financial situations. While a few believe it is more important to do work that provides job satisfaction as they feel money can't be a replacement for joy and self-satisfaction, and also choosing the high paid salary job with has no satisfying career can lead to the development of avaricious attitudes. Hence there are more jumping jacks in the companies than those who stick to their job loyally.

Yes, money is important in a career but it should not take the center stage. When work is done with passion it gives immense happiness during the process; being joyful at work is a feel that no money in the world can grant. While a work is taken as passion we become more willing to accept any kind of exciting challenges and thrive to overcoming those which itself leads to self- satisfaction and this self satisfaction is fulfillment of one's character. If instead payment is the main criteria, then those challenges will appear to us as hassle and hurdles and our attitude towards them will be averse which will indirectly affect the job and henceforth the job satisfaction takes a beating. This in turn can result in the development of discontented attitudes. Those who have discontented attitudes often grumble about never finding happiness and self-worth because to them it is only the salary that is most value item than the job satisfaction. Such people fail to comprehend that true value behind happiness and self-satisfaction is not in the job but the way we perceive that job.

Excellence in the job comes from within; a person doing a job for self-satisfaction does not need others to praise his work. It is his satisfaction which becomes ultimate yardstick for him. There is a story on this line which I found posted on my Facebook which says the same. I know many have read this story but even then i would like to refer to it here.   

A gentleman once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of Lord Buddha to be installed in the monastery. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, “Do you need two Buddha statues?”

“No,” said the sculptor without looking up, “We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage.”

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage... “Where is the damage?” he asked.

“There is a scratch on the nose of the idol,” said the sculptor, still busy with his work.

“Where are you going to install the idol?” asked the gentleman.

The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pedestal about ten feet high.

“If the idol is that high, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?” the gentleman asked.

The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, “I know it!”

The desire to find satisfaction from a job done should be exclusive of the fact whether someone appreciates it or not. Job Satisfaction is a drive from inside, not outside.

Perform a job not necessarily for other to notice and appreciate it tomorrow but for your own satisfaction today. Once you take up work as a passion and if you are satisfied with what you do, then applaud and praise from other will inevitably follow.