Paradoxically, the solution to this problem may also be found in this connection between the two areas, and perhaps we can spread the antidote as well. In the Puritan ethic, work played an important role in the divine plan. At some level, we are still attached to this notion, linking virtue and work. We praise people for being busy, for working hard and long. Since 1985, the amount of vacation time, as well as the amount of time taken off sick, has also declined.
Stress is linked to most of the health problems in our population.
The obsession with working harder and longer is clearly contributing to some of our major health problems. I believe that another, new relationship between spirituality and work can easily become the answer. Our natural human desire for meaning and value can be the motivation for finding a new vitality. We can use work as a spiritual practice, to grow in awareness, to learn and challenge our own perceived limits, to look deeply into the meaning of our activity, to become nourished at a profound level. The benefits of this concentration can include greater clarity, focus, productivity, and success while staying balanced and relaxed.