There is a profound theory by Plato, where he talks about how each existent thing has a perfect Form, like a perfect design or idea in the mind of God, out of which then creation comes.
And so, the Forms of things are perfect, while when it comes to creation and their manifestation, they are not yet perfect. They are in a process of reaching that ideal Form.
I got so excited when I heard about his Theory of Forms, because for many years I’ve been fascinated with this idea of “What is the healthiest expression of something?”
What is the healthiest expression of a romantic relationship. Or what is the most harmonious expression of what we call business. Or what is the healthiest expression of Work?
What would be the perfect FORM for Work?
How would God have wanted to design the activity we call work? And if there is such a healthy and harmonious expression of work, then how would that look like? What form would work take?!
The way we see work as a society nowadays is still a dysfunctional one. The concept of work has evolved, of course, over the centuries. We may have gotten closer to a healthier form, but still not quite there yet.
Seeing work as an effort-based activity that we do to make money. And then feel the Dread that can’t help but come from that view. The dissatisfaction, burnout, the overwhelm.
This exploration of what WORK really is, and could be, in its ideal form, has been a major passion of mine. And it’s been a huge struggle and challenge to wrestle with this topic.
- Especially because we’re so conditioned with countless fear-based ideas about work.
- Plus, most of the people around us model a more or less unhealthy insecure view and approach to work.
- Plus it’s such a visceral topic, that ties directly with money and survival. That it’s difficult and scary to even consider any other work-views.
But there are indeed such views. That get closer to harmony and truth. And some of us do LIVE those views, and beautifully live in their creative element. And we look at them and think that they are just lucky, or it’s a fluke.
But it’s not. They just have a clear, secure, unconditioned view of work. That is closer to its Form. To what God would have wanted work to look like by design.
And to be honest, it’s been quite an agonizing exploration for me, and still is, but eventually I began to see the light…
And so far, the clearest answer to that inquiry is that:
Life’s FORM for WORK is JOY.
JOY in the sense of the expression of your unique creative nature. Whatever that expression is for you.
And from that expression, Contribution to the world happens, Remuneration for your work comes, and Meaning and fulfillment is born.
That’s the sign of something being close to its Form. That all the necessary requirements and benefits are natural by-products of that.
What if all you had to do was have the Clarity and Courage to know and follow your creative joy?
And everything else would naturally unfold from that.
Something to consider.
Work better,
Liviu Beschieri