This week we spoke with philosopher Alain de Botton about his book "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work"... I want to open up a discussion on the things he was talking about.
We've just been speaking with philosopher Alain de Botton about "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work"... I want to open up a discussion now on some of those things he was talking about.
DISCUSSION POINTS
• We talked about how men are much more likely to find a strong identity in the work they do - For example they will find a job loss much harder to deal with than a woman might.
• Would you agree? If you're a guy have you observed that in yourself? Or women - have you observed that tendency in the men in your life?
• Also - what role does work take in your life? Is it just to put food on the table and you're happy to take any work you can get? Perhaps your fulfillment is found in family or hobbies or volunteer roles instead.
• Or is your job a vital part of your life that brings great fulfillment? You get up in the morning and look forward to work ... You're one of those people who works back late and loves it ... (eg the paleontologist story).
• Alain also spoke about this modern-day tendency of summing up the importance or validity of our work based on our pay.
• Have you ever caught yourself doing that? Or have you ever wrestled with feelings of irrelevance or inadequacy, because your pay packet isn't as big as Mr Jones's next door?
• New mums often face those feelings, leaving a fulfilling career. Motherhood is one of the most important roles yet can be so undervalued. Have you experienced that?
• Finally, I'd love to explore the notion of calling. Alain talked about how the idea of one unique calling has come from certain branches of religion; But he suggested it may be more natural to pursue many different things - that we all have a variety of inbuilt abilities and interests.
• What do you think? Do you believe there's a unique calling or vocation for everyone? Or has that been pushed too hard in our individualist society...
• Maybe you believe there's a range of possibilities for everyone, but that God still guides us in what path our working life takes?
• Tell us your experience... Are you in a job that you know for certain God has guided you into? Or did you just stumble into what you're doing?
• Maybe you've stumbled along through the years, but you're able to look back and still say, that God was guiding you all along?
• Tell us your thoughts on work, calling and fulfillment
• We talked about how men are much more likely to find a strong identity in the work they do - For example they will find a job loss much harder to deal with than a woman might.
• Would you agree? If you're a guy have you observed that in yourself? Or women - have you observed that tendency in the men in your life?
• Also - what role does work take in your life? Is it just to put food on the table and you're happy to take any work you can get? Perhaps your fulfillment is found in family or hobbies or volunteer roles instead.
• Or is your job a vital part of your life that brings great fulfillment? You get up in the morning and look forward to work ... You're one of those people who works back late and loves it ... (eg the paleontologist story).
• Alain also spoke about this modern-day tendency of summing up the importance or validity of our work based on our pay.
• Have you ever caught yourself doing that? Or have you ever wrestled with feelings of irrelevance or inadequacy, because your pay packet isn't as big as Mr Jones's next door?
• New mums often face those feelings, leaving a fulfilling career. Motherhood is one of the most important roles yet can be so undervalued. Have you experienced that?
• Finally, I'd love to explore the notion of calling. Alain talked about how the idea of one unique calling has come from certain branches of religion; But he suggested it may be more natural to pursue many different things - that we all have a variety of inbuilt abilities and interests.
• What do you think? Do you believe there's a unique calling or vocation for everyone? Or has that been pushed too hard in our individualist society...
• Maybe you believe there's a range of possibilities for everyone, but that God still guides us in what path our working life takes?
• Tell us your experience... Are you in a job that you know for certain God has guided you into? Or did you just stumble into what you're doing?
• Maybe you've stumbled along through the years, but you're able to look back and still say, that God was guiding you all along?
• Tell us your thoughts on work, calling and fulfillment
