"The Clash of Work Culture & Basic Human Needs"

Let us STOP glorifying hard work and expectations. - instead, create boundaries.

Let us STOP submitting to intimidation strengthened by capitalists. - instead, follow slow living, a purposeful attitude, deep-rooted self-esteem & optimism.

Let us STOP obsessing over Career Paths. - instead, manifest, give your best & believe in your learning process.

Let us STOP continuing in exploitation & toxic environments. - instead, choose to be in safe workplaces.

Let us STOP making ourselves vulnerable to bullies. -instead, choose yourself again and forever.

Let us STOP halting our lives with deadlines.-instead, spend time on self-inquiry and mindfulness.

My early mornings usually start with some lukewarm water; however yesterday morning I realized my mobile had drained its charge. I plugged it up and switched it on so that the data flowed in. As the notifications started making random, funny pitching noises; one headline clutched my awareness. It read, “Daughter, 26, Died of Overwork at EY, No one attended the funeral: Woman’s letter”. Read here

In a world full of clickbait, this one stood ironically real. Also, the age 26 and the word overwork has a strong relatability to my life too. It felt personal. ??

After immersing into the content, my self-talk began. “May we save our souls and listen to what our bodies need, the mind feels & heart follows. Pace out to do productive work that gives us encouragement to also builds a better workspace around us.”

A couple of years back we used to say STRESS would be the biggest non-communicable disease. Today, Stress has become the biggest threat to happiness and has become communicable too.

The Vampire energy in the form of a control freak boss or volatile company ethics or competitor co-worker will drain us and suck the creativity out of us. Not just in terms of skills, even the essence of our contribution & eternal talent scope will deplete beyond the point of no return. Because our blood circulation has stopped functioning due to our sedentary lifestyle. The cubicle or cabin we sit in is the hell chamber that scorches us & creates an imbalance in our hormones. We become a machine, a commodity, a clone program, an employee ID, a PF number...the name tags never end...

There is this mental block about how we need to come up in life; and we keep saying to our children, to our students, to our youth, to our employees, to ourselves too - Hard work is about breaking your back, strict schedules (in real it means monotonous), feeling the pain and pressure, adapt into the mission and vision of the business environment, earn your pay check at the end of the month by proving unexpendable.

And then this workforce does end up wearing a mask of confidence under layers of uncertain dynamics & inadequate feelings at the cost of their well-being. We have ended up controlling our freedom of thought in depleting ways. Habits also need a reassessment now and then. We need to get out of survival mode and choose our life. Start with emotional regulation and liberation in the true sense.

That is exactly what has happened. Clearing CA is no small feat. And then you fall in love with your first job & want to give it all resisting exhaustion.

Who is noticing your commitment & sacrifice?

Who is making sure about your eating patterns and hydration levels?

Who makes sure you follow the circadian rhythm when 24/7 is the way of working?

Who is saving you from the light and electromagnetic radiation from the numerous screens & gadgets – laptops, mobiles, tablets, ear pods, headphones, and more?

Our body talks to us & our first commitment is to listen to it, assure it of our companionship & remain loyal to it.

In the education and work industry, only a few schools, institutions, or workspaces make work culture, mind-body-soul wellness, and mental health their top priority.

It is high time we invested in self-awareness and respected our presence in this universe. Focus on our priorities and give time to ourselves and our loved ones. I hope we break this thought process of surrendering to our workplaces. That will be the first step yet the toughest action towards transformation!

I did not know her. Yet I feel her. Yes, I have been there. Yes, the workaholic in me created havoc on my mind and body. It became unbearable and my body refused to be friends with me. My mind could not think and flow any longer. I had to quit and relearn Maslow's Hierarchy of needs to what should have been my guiding light right from the start.

I will not try to fathom how you broke. RIP Anna Sebastian Perayil.

You deserved a beautiful life just like you ??

? Kapithra Kannapiran

#CoachwithKapi