My Need for Meaning — and how to Invest my Time

Posted on July 28, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home

Good Morning, God!

I got up to make a note to myself about this book — but then I saw that my “How To” handout for tomorrow’s meeting wasn’t done. I confess, God, I spent 30+ minutes finishing it. Work is addictive. Projects cry out to be finished.

Now, God, I am going back to bed — ignoring the other tasks whimpering for attention.

It’s morning and I’m back, God, very aware that it’s a good thing that I am retiring from my “library consulting” jobs. One is about done — just another handout to go. The other one still has 3 or 4 more training handouts and meetings to go.

But my middle of the night “work craving” makes the point that I was so taken with in Dan Ariely’s book. He says that all the creatures they have tested prefer to work for their food — all but “the commendably rational cat.” He talks in the book about his parrot who prefers to “earn” her food through mastering a “SeekaTreat.” That device and other challenging toys “provided her with a more meaningful way to earn her food and spend her time.”

Ah, my. The parrot and I have the same needs, don’t we, God. The need for meaningful and challenging activities. Perhaps, that is why there are so many volunteers in America, God? Or so many young people playing computer games? Meaning and challenge are powerful motivators.

Hmmm. Meaning, Challenge and Belonging. That last one — the need to belong — is maybe even the most powerful of all. Please, God, enlarge our sense of belonging. Let us focus on caring for one another. Caring for our fellow creatures, large and small. And, not least, God, caring for ourselves.