| Stress. We have all felt the increased heart rate, | | | | basis: How do I get the greatest amount of pleasure |
| shallow breathing and sweaty palms that it produces. | | | | (or least amount of suffering) for the least amount of |
| We seem to live in an increasingly stressful world, and | | | | effort? |
| the workplace is no exception. It is estimated that | | | | Let’s apply this to the workplace example we used |
| workplace stress costs U.S. employers over $200 | | | | above. Why was the internal candidate for the job |
| billion each year in factors such as lost productivity, | | | | upset when he didn’t get the job? Maybe he |
| employee turnover and medical bills. | | | | wanted the extra money to buy a new yacht. Maybe |
| Most corporate people recognize that “major | | | | he wanted the prestige and power the new position |
| egos” in the workplace cause issues that spread | | | | would have given him. Whatever the specific |
| stress throughout the organization. For example, that | | | | motivations, the real reason is because it would have |
| new VP they hired from outside the company | | | | given him pleasure. |
| generated a lot of stress. The internal people who | | | | The same can be said for everyone else who |
| considered themselves as viable candidates for that | | | | experienced stress when the new guy came on |
| VP position were significantly hit with the stresses of | | | | board. In each case, the affected person was reacting |
| not getting the job they were expecting. Their friends | | | | because he or she was not going to get some |
| worried that maybe they would not get their hoped-for | | | | anticipated pleasure, or because the new boss was |
| promotion as well. And, of course, almost everyone | | | | going to increase their suffering. He might be difficult to |
| experienced some level of anxiety on how this new | | | | work with or more demanding. Some employees might |
| person would impact their lives. | | | | even be concerned about losing their jobs. |
| In order to reduce the high personal and financial costs | | | | Seeing the reality of our human nature is not pleasant, |
| of stress, many businesses are encouraging their | | | | but Kabbalah tells us that it is absolutely necessary. |
| employees to participate in stress reduction programs. | | | | Only by seeing what we truly are, can we be |
| Some companies even offer exercise programs, | | | | motivated to change. This change is at the root of the |
| meditation periods and massage in the office to help | | | | great mysteries of life: Why am I here? What is the |
| reduce the stress levels. And, of course, there are the | | | | purpose of life? Why is there so much suffering in the |
| time honored means of self-medication including alcohol | | | | world? |
| and drugs. | | | | Kabbalah provides us with the key to answering these |
| Will these efforts really help, though? The more we try | | | | questions. The first step is to realize that all of our |
| to reduce stress, the faster and more chaotic the | | | | problems and stress are caused by our nature. |
| workplace seems to get. | | | | Kabbalah then provides us with a methodology to |
| The wisdom of Kabbalah helps us understand why | | | | change that nature. When we can do this, we will live |
| these stress reduction programs can never work in | | | | in balance and harmony. Teamwork in the workplace |
| the long run. Kabbalah tells us that everything that | | | | will be the norm rather than competition. Until that time, |
| happens to us is an opportunity for us to observe our | | | | the stresses in the workplace and life will keep driving |
| true nature. In reality, we operate on a very simple | | | | us forward. |