I live in a culture based in the belief that work is good. Our common story is about people finding opportunities to apply themselves, work hard, and earn rewards.
My culture has shaped me and my expectations through my entire life. We are united by the belief that we attract people who want to be able to earn their way forward.
We see ourselves as the Land of Opportunity. We share the American Dream.
We take pride in what we do. Our work defines and identifies us. When we introduce ourselves, we tell people what we do.
When we no longer need to, or are unable to, work for a living, we have difficulty knowing who we are. It is almost as if we do not recognize ourselves without work. Coming to the completion of our working lives is one of the most traumatic things that can happen to us.
The way we understand work gives it tremendous power in our lives. We evaluate ourselves and our lives based on the work we do. We make painful sacrifices, some conscious and some not, to strengthen our working lives.
The power of work can overwhelm us. Many of us make basic decisions about work before we have the experience or perspective we need to choose wisely. We may absorb the expectations of people around us, or assume that other people know what is best for us.
Many people get to a point at which they question work decisions they have made or assumptions they have held. Our understanding of the value of our work develops over time.
With help, over time, our work ethic becomes clear and our work life grows stronger.
What is your work ethic?
How does your work shape the way you see the world?
[Image by regan76]
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