What Does "Work" Really Mean?

What Does "Work" Really Mean?
Photo by Merakist / Unsplash

What first comes to mind when you hear the word, “Work?”

I can’t say for sure if this is true of everyone, but in our current cultural we often think of work as negative, as something to be avoided, maybe even a “four-letter word” connected with something at best difficult, unrewarding, associated with drudgery, or something we “have to do.” If something involves “work” we seek to avoid it. We live for the weekend or holiday, so we do not have to “work.” Even at its best work is simply regarded as paid employment and associated a job or a career.

But this negative and restricted way of defining “work” is damaging to our perceptions of what work can in fact mean in people’s lives. To put it another way, a negative and limited concept of work obscures our perception of the more potentially positive aspects of work, and therefore of how one’s work can enhance the overall quality of one’s life, sense of wellbeing, enjoyment, and happiness.

There is a more fundamental, noble, and positive way of viewing work.

Work can mean something fulfilling, meaningful, purposeful, even inspiriting and motivating—in short, a way of contributing to self and to the world. We can regard work in the way we think of it when we say, “there is a work I need to do,” or “I am seeking to fulfil my life’s work.”  Work, in other words, can be seen as ennobling, and not demeaning.

A “New” Definition of Work

What I am suggesting here is a “new” way of viewing what we mean by the term “work,” --defined as encompassing any purposeful, meaningful and engaging activity that holds positive value for the person engaged in the activity, regardless of whether the activity is done for economic gain or not.  As such, work is distinctive from activity not valued by the individual or otherwise felt to be a negative experience.

Why might this definition of work be useful? I can think of at least three reasons. First, work, as I am defining it here, is a holistic concept that transcends what is most often defined as one’s job or career, to cover all life roles and arenas of action.  Second, by engaging in positive work, individuals have an enhanced opportunity to live more engaged and enjoyable lives, by experiencing more often what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi refers to as “flow” or “optimal experience.” And third, positive work can lead to a life that has more personal meaning for the individual engaged in it, and who would more likely enjoy success in multiple areas of life.

As such, positive work can include paid employment, volunteer work, educational activities, learning in general, even hobbies, avocations, or recreation—if it involves (for the person doing it) purpose and meaning.  By not limiting the concept of work to one’s paid employment only, a person can see his or her whole life, at least potentially, as one integrated whole, rather than artificially compartmentalized.  Individuals are thus free to seek purpose and satisfaction in all aspects of their life, and not just their careers or jobs.

Work, therefore, is only “work” (in the negative sense), when we engage in it without a sense of purpose and meaning, or when we do it out of pure obligation or necessity, with no other conscience motive.

What might be some implications growing out of this idea?

First, people are often “working“ more often that they think they are.  Any time they are purposely moving toward goals that are meaningful to them, they are engaged in positive work that can lead to more life fulfilment.

Second, how society thinks about work may not be “working” well in terms of truly granting people the emotional and intellectual freedom to live life to the fullest degree possible. Negative attitudes hold people back. Our society would be well served by adopting a more positive view of what work can mean.

Third, the way to build a fulfilling, meaningful life is to “work” more, not less.  Rather than trying to escape from work, we can view it as something to be profitably embraced and cultivated.