Just Do It

Do you ever feel like work consumes your life? Whenever I feel like my job is dominating my life, I get this gnawing feeling of discontent and hopelessness. My daily schedule becomes the unrelenting master and I become the helpless victim.

Lately I’ve been reading The Upanishads before work every morning, in part trying to combat this downward spiral of thoughts. Last week I was particularly struck by this passage:

“Well may he be content to live a hundred years who acts without attachment—who works his work with earnestness, but without desire, not yearning for its fruits—he and he alone.”

So that’s what I did. Honestly, I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning and go to the office. But whenever I remember to work without attachment--to the finish, the outcome, the reward--I truly enjoy my work. I love writing. I love editing. I love midwifery and yoga. Now if I can just enjoy the dishes…