Working for?

 I am reflecting tonight about what people work toward, and whether one's working life is meaningful. When I talk about "working life", I am not only referring to one's professional work, but also the kinds of things we do that occupy our intellects and our bodies: volunteering for one, education for another. Is there ever a time when we feel that this work has no purpose? If so, what do we do in those situations?
   I have often thought of work as a place where meaning can be sought, even if it is not necessarily given in the purpose of the organization itself. If you have ever read mission statements before, you will know what I am talking about. Though mission statements are designed to define what an organization does, they are always by necessity framed in a vague enough way that it might not even suit the person's own sense of meaning. I wouldn't personally base my own sense of work around the idea of a corporate mission statement, since it is way too big, and quite often, people at work are unable to see themselves as carrying out a significant part of the mission statement itself. Even when I am in the front line of serving customers or dealing with customer inquiries and issues, this doesn't mean that I by necessity feel connected with those stakeholders or derive meaning from those relationships.
   To me, work (of all kinds) is really just a training for the mind to deal with various kinds of struggles, as well as to learn how to create meaning rather than passively seeking it in things. That is, my work meaning needs to come from a kind of creative reflection, such as in the mornings when I think about the best way to tackle a work problem, or when I am reflecting on a particular course in school. When I have insight into the constructed nature of meaning itself, I am less inclined toward depression or blaming environmental circumstances. Instead, I start to view myself as someone who is actively involved in their own meaning making. In addition, work life teaches us about mystery, harmony and the values of waiting. When I am working for someone, I am often having to work with others to get projects done, often collaborating with very different personalities. In this way, I learn the subtle balance between creating meaning and being able to yield to the moments and perspective of others. Meaning of work is always a work in progress.