How to Maintain Peace while Working Intensely

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 3

Work and Study: Be More Human at Work

Reflection on the Monk Mindset & Quote

I live in Washington, D.C., and the first question many ask upon meeting me is, “What do you do?”  Of course what we do matters, but ultimately, it’s secondary to the more fundamental questions: Why do I work? How do I work? 

We are built for work, driven to provide for ourselves, our families, and others in need. Work helps us survive individually and as a species. Moreover, most of us are at our best when we have part of our lives dedicated to meaningful labor. 

Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours working – at our job, running errands, doing household chores, and so on. But does our work help us foster peace and become more human? Or does it make us feel divided and burnt out? 

Monastic life harmonizes work into life by having dedicated time for focused work and establishing strict boundaries around when you are not working. When we work, we can be in danger of losing our peace because of the pressure of a deadline, the excitement of a project, or the anxiety of feeling overwhelmed. Any of these can make us frazzled, drained, or scattered, which impedes peace and our capacity to be lovingly present to others. 

A technique to keep from frenzy and anxiety, is to always hold a little back when we’re working. Try not to give yourself so over to your tasks that you become consumed by them. 

Work with one hand and keep the other guarding your heart from becoming frazzled. Steady breaths and good posture to reinforce this desire. This will help to preserve peace and focus within. It’s a similar approach to “being in the zone” while working – a focused but controlled energy.

Put It Into Practice This Week

Close your eyes and imagine your work commitment or task that gives you the most stress. I know, yikes, right!? 

Now, imagine how you might perform that task differently by protecting the peace within. Commit to embodying this feeling the next time that situation emerges. 

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