I finished reading The Art of Happiness at Work by His High Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler last night. I must say since I began it, work has seemed much better. It’s not that I like my work environment or that I am actually happy and satisfied with my job, but it is better. Today I even caught myself walking down the hallway and humming, “yo ho, yo ho a pirate’s life for me!” There might be some underlying reason to my choice of tune, but I have no idea what it is. All I know is, the humming felt good.
Anyway, all the petty stuff doesn’t bother me as much and when I start to feel my blood pressure go up, a deep breath or two and a mental note to remember the Dalai Lama has helped tremendously. And my coworker who started me on the Dalai Lama chant is still finding it productive. Another coworker who I told a bit about the book used some of what I said in a clinical staff meeting to get the therapists and counselors to chill out. She said it worked. Whether or not it stuck around after the staff meeting remains to be seen. So the Dalai Lama’s influence grows.
What I like about the book was how simple the advice is and how it continually comes back to the individual and the choices one makes. Even when we are truly trapped in a crappy job and can’t get out for whatever reason, we can still make choices. The book also reminds us that our coworkers and bosses are human beings with problems and feelings of their own. Simple respect, kindness and compassion can go a long way.
The Dalai Lama also talks about not allowing ourselves to become so identified with the work that we do that if we can no longer do that work, we are devastated. Or, being so identified that any critique of our work is taken as criticism about who we are as a person. He also talks about the Buddhist idea or right livelihood. I don’t entirely understand it, but it seems it means choosing work that is productive and harms no one.
The book is not actually written by the Dalai Lama. Cutler spent several hours a day for about a week in conversation with the Dalai Lama about happiness at work and then wrote the book. There is lots of dialogue which is good and interesting. What was kind of blah for me was Cutler, a psychiatrist, felt it necessary for some reason to analyze what the Dalai Lama meant about some things and then try to put it into a westernized context with surveys and studies and what not.
But the Dalai Lama, I’d love to sit down and have a cup of tea with him. I have no idea what we’d talk about, but he is so kind and generous and in spite of everything, a regular guy, that I’m sure we’d find something to chat about. Often in the book he would answer that he didn’t know, that there was no clear-cut answer or that he’d have to think about something a little more. Great spiritual leader that he is, I liked that he didn’t have all the answers or wasn’t sure about some things. He’s the kind of person we all wish we knew; the kind of person we would all like to be. And I think because he isn’t afraid to say “I don’t know,” he seems like someone we could be if we keep trying. That’s what the message in the book really is. Work at these simple things, they are hard but worthwhile, don’t give up, mistakes are ok, just keep trying.
Glad you found the book useful afterall. When the book first came out, I did wonder if we will find it relevant, because the Dalai Lama never actually have to sit n the office and deal with office politics and mean-spirited bosses.
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Stephanie,
I’ll let you know next time he’s in town. He visits here rather often and we’re only 4 hours away in Madison WI. He come to visit the Deer Park Buddhist Center (http://www.deerparkcenter.org/) but often will lecture at some big auditorium in town. I have to admit I haven’t been to any of his talks – tickets go fast.
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Sigh. I am going to have no free space left on my new bookshelves if you carry on in this way! 🙂
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Interesting — I think I could use that book right about now 🙂 I’m glad it helped you out so much.
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‘But the Dalai Lama, I’d love to sit down and have a cup of tea with him. I have no idea what we’d talk about, but he is so kind and generous and in spite of everything, a regular guy, that I’m sure we’d find something to chat about.’
You said it well: our workplaces would be happier if we exhibited those traits, including humility.
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While there are certainly situations, jobs, etc. that are truly and utterly bad and should be run from immediately, I too believe by and large that we can make choices that can increase the fulfillment and ‘happiness’ that we have at work and in other areas of our lives. It is a shame and a waste to not make those choices, that effort, that would allow us to get the most out of every situation as opposed to just sitting around complaining and grousing and being miserable.
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I think it would be calming just to have that book with me on my desk at work! Thank you for writing and telling us about it.
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Dark Orpheus, thanks. The Dalai Lama has never had to sit in an office, but he understands people.
Bonnie, thanks! I can imagine tickets go really fast. Who wouldn’t want to go hear such an inspirational speaker?
Litlove, you still have free space on your bookshelves? What’s wrong with you? 😉
Dorothy, oh no! The school year hasn’t even started yet!
Paul, yup, but it is so hard to remember and to keep it up especially if the work culture doesn’t encourage it. It is still worth trying though!
Carl, it is a shame and a waste to be miserable. The Dalai Lama even talks about how some people hold onto their misery and refuse to let it go. I know some people like that and it is so incredible sad.
Melanie, it has been calming just having the book on my desk. The Dalai Lama’s smiling peaceful face is a good and gentle reminder.
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