GUSH, It’s Monday Again!

YES, it was a ‘LoNg weekend’ but I did not feel like waking up to go to work this morning. Who looks forward to Monday, anyway? I doubt if anyone does; certainly not if you work in my kind of office with my kind of supervisor and colleagues. Seriously, they freak me out all the time and make me hate work, really hate work. To think that I earn way less than my friends who work at “myrichfriends.com” just across the Province does not help matters. I sometimes wonder if my work or work in general is punishment. Why do we have to work anyway? If only I do not have to pay my bills. It’s only 8:30am on Monday morning and I am already looking forward to Friday at 4.

Are you like the ‘me’ I described above? Do you cringe at the thought of resuming unpleasant work with your coworkers after each weekend? Do you see work as punishment or necessary evil? Are you one of those who sing TGIF - Thank God It’s Friday and tempted to call in sick most Monday mornings? Great if you are not one of them but truth is many of us didn’t want the just passed ‘long weekend’ to be over so soon. After all, who does not like a little extra rest on a weekend? But if you happen to be in this group of what I would respectfully call ‘work-slaves’, I encourage you set yourself free and become a better you, starting this week. This may be a tough nut for you to crack but there is a way and you are better off starting to find it now. 

In reality I have been through some of those Monday moments described above and looking back from where I am now, I know it’s not fun and I feel compelled to write a note of encouragement to those who might still be suffering from the Monday fever. 

Here is how I got my freedom from work stress: I found my place and occupied it. Certainly, I have not arrived but I am not where I used to be. Looking back from where I am today, my perspective of work has changed and the feeling is different. Work is now fun and working long hours is norm. I can tell you from experience that you are healthier, happier and stronger if you enjoy your work. It’s about 1:30 in the morning as I write this article after a busy Sunday and I am not tasked. My call is to add value to people by inspiring them to overcome life’s dysfunctions and be the best God created them to be. When you are in your place, work is not something you dread or run away from but something you look towards. You do not keep your eyes on the clock or look forward to long weekends and statutory holidays just as reliefs from work. Instead, work will become pleasure and everything and everyone you love will be part of what you do and your creative ability will come to light.

Yes, work can be a pain if you are just working to pay bills. What punishment could be greater than doing everyday what you hate to do at all? There are many work-slaves in the labour market today, don’t be one of them. So, here are a few suggestions that you might find helpful:

Discover what you were created to do and start doing it

Everyone is created to complete a unique assignment in life and work is fun only when you know what that assignment is and you are doing it. The acid test for discovering your calling is God’s Word. No one knows more about the purpose of a product than the creator of that product. Study the Word and ask God in prayer to guide you to your assignment. Usually it would be an area where you get the most inspiration from God. God-ordained assignments are the easiest and most pleasurable to carry out. After identifying something that looks like what you want to spend your life on, and connecting with like-minds, ask yourself this fundamental question: “if money was not an issue, will I be doing this type of work? If your answer is no, you are probably doing the wrong thing.

The moment you know what your assignment is, start by connecting with people who are doing similar things. You will save time and stress by standing on their shoulders to see further. There is no need to re-invent the will; smart people improve on the work of previous generations. However, be careful not to hop into the first bus that looks like your interests. Interests are not the same as callings. For example, I am interested in dancing but I am not called to dance. If I join a dancing group today as a profession, it will be an unpleasant work for me. Stay where you find inspiration.

Start your own business and partner with like-minds

In some cases you may not find existing business that is a good match for your calling but you can start your own business -depending of course on your personality, skill set and nature of business. You may experience teething challenges at the beginning but once your business is up and running, you will be having so much fun that you won’t know how time flies. Where starting your own business is impractical for whatever reason, consider partnering with others. Even if you can do everything on your own it usually helps to partner with people of like-minds. Some business types operate even better when managed by a team of complementary individuals rather than a sole expert. Do not think of the capital to start with, think of the results your work will bring to your world and the smiles you would put on faces just by saying yes to your calling. The energy and peace that come from such approach will force the capital you need to come your way. Don’t we have enough evidence to show that people like to support noble courses?

Trust God to take care of you and avoid competition

     Did you know that it takes a lifetime to earn a living but a moment to receive favour from God? While toil when you can trust God? Learn to trust God to take care of you. You don’t have to earn your living to enjoy life; you just need to be at the right place doing the right thing. Your faithful God will ensure your needs are met. The wealthiest people are among those who do what they are ‘called to do’ rather than those who do what they ‘have to do’. When you start doing what God created you to do, he will take care of you but realize that you are on a mission and not in a competition. Even among those who have found their calling are some who have turned themselves into copy cats and competitors. Forget about trying to beat others, instead, focus on fulfilling your mission. Whatever God has assigned to you is unique to you. Even if many other people are doing similar things, they cannot do the same thing unless you give up your calling and abandon your post.
     
      Find your place, take your position, team up with like minds, trust God and you will be able to confidently say goodbye to “Gush, It’s Monday, Again” or TGIF –Thank God it’s Friday as a relief.  You will be able to say: TGIM- Thank God it’s Monday, TGIT –Thank God Its Tuesday, TGIW –Thank God It’s Wednesday, TGIT –Thank God It’s Thursdays, TGIF –Thank God It’s Friday, TGIS –Thank God It’s Saturday and TGIS- Thank God It’s Sunday!

      Enjoy your week! Enjoy your work! Become a better you!

¹¹He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and is without understanding.

Proverbs 12:11.

For comments or questions, please contact me at pokaka@solidrockchurchcanada.com