Favorite Inspirational Quotes

The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously.  The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.

Margaret Foley

I am of two minds about the “…the first is imperative…” part of this quote.

First off, I think it depends upon whether one’s work is a job you fell into and whether your work is your calling.  Now I’m not saying that if you have a job it isn’t a good idea to take it seriously.  In fact, that is a very good way to get ahead in your job and hopefully end up with one you love that is your calling.  That follows the advice of starting where you are with what you have.  And with things going the way they are, taking your job seriously and helping the company get ahead could be the difference between keeping your job and being laid off as an expense that doesn’t pay its way.

But on the other side, I think if your work is your calling you won’t have to “take it seriously” because your focus and attention is already on it.  And you enjoy doing it.  Maybe you can be serious about it and also enjoy it, find the joy in it, but I think that depends on how you personally define “seriously”.  I must define it a bit as pushing the joy out of the situation.  Yet, I am very serious about my business and my studies but get lots of joy from them.

As for taking yourself seriously, well, there are times when that is appropriate.  When you have responsibilities, you need to be serious about attending to them.

But being able to look back on those serious moments and not take them seriously at that later time would be a gift.  It would keep you from holding onto the past.  Not much you can do about the past but remember.  So if those memories can be looked at less than seriously, that’s better for you now.

Tags: self