[One Thousand Characters a Day] Work Life Is the Ultimate Practice <5>

Editor's NoteThe latter part of this book, 'Eat, Drink, Talk, and Reflect,' introduces ways for office workers to find peace of mind in their daily lives beyond work. It explains what mindset to adopt to feel comfortable when being led by a boss to eat an unwanted menu during lunch, or when having to grill meat or forcibly drink disliked alcohol at company dinners, and the mental health benefits of focusing solely on the act of eating while dining or drinking alone. Additionally, in 'How to Live Healthily in Body and Mind Until Death,' it covers secrets to maintaining both mental and physical health and enjoying a rich life. Word count: 968.

We carry many worries and concerns while working at the company. These could be unresolved ideas when drafting a proposal or the distress arising from human relationships. Even when sitting at the office desk, no matter how much we try to erase negative emotions, they do not easily disappear at will. That is precisely when we need to shake off the involuntarily rising bad feelings by moving to a different space.

When taking a walk, try not to think about anything else and consciously focus only on the flowers blooming most beautifully in that season. In spring, there are magnolias, forsythias, and cherry blossoms; in summer, lilacs and roses; in autumn, ginkgo leaves and maples. Simply gazing at those flowers without any thoughts will gradually calm your mind. In front of the beauty given by nature and the vitality it holds, one can also feel humility as a human being.

No matter how harsh the cold or rain and wind, nature always returns to the same appearance as if nothing happened when the season comes. Watching such nature makes the many worries and concerns inside me seem trivial. I was also able to newly appreciate the beauty of flowers that I had not noticed before.

(Omitted)

Work life brings us a lot of stress, but on the other hand, it also provides human satisfaction beyond the paycheck. Difficulties arise from work life, but depending on how we cope with them, our mental and emotional state can become stronger. In the movie Myeongryang, Yi Sun-sin transformed fear into courage and defeated 133 Japanese ships with only 12 vessels. The word 'crisis' contains both 'danger and opportunity.' How much could our lives change if we accepted the stress of work life as the ultimate mental training? There are office workers who go to work like dogs being led to the slaughterhouse just to earn money, and there are those who go to work thinking that this work life is the best practice for their entire life. Which of these do you think will live a happier life?

－Jeong Hae-seung, Work Life Is the Best Practice, Hermon House, 17,000 KRW

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