More Than ...

"You are more than what you have done." ~ Dr. Myles Munroe, UNDERSTANDING YOUR POTENTIAL

As we balance between the world we'd built and the one we have today, Dr. Munroe's statement contains an important notion. Many people have lost their jobs. Workers have filed more than six million unemployment claims* in ONE WEEK. More than 22 millions Americans have filed claims since mid March.** We can speculate on the financial impact to each household, as unemployment only provides a fraction of one's regular pay. The turmoil in losing a job is more than financial. That seems obvious, but is it? If you have never been without a job, income or a professional position, it's not that simple. Those claim figures represent some person's loss of self.

We often center our worth or understanding of self around our job. Perhaps, the logic bears itself out. In the U.S., we are taught that one attends school, school and more school to have a career. We spend so much time working that career that it's difficult to often separate ourselves from what we do. We may not reflect on the notion of job vs. self until we no longer have that position or are no longer doing that thing. One U.S. Social Security Administration study suggested that men's death rate increases after retirement.*** Anecdotally, many people die shortly after retiring. I have observed this on a number of occasions for more than 20 years (and others have written about it). There are ways to curb retiree death rates and to increase retiree longevity before retirement -- not just staying busy.

Have you reflected on who you are outside of your work and accomplishments? We laud those who have achieved social success. How impressive it is to say, "I'm a doctor." "I'm a astrophysicists (I know several)." "I'm a concert pianist." "I'm a ..." Is that really true? Are you that or is that what you do? These titles telegraph how hard we have worked. APPLAUSE! You deserve all the accolades that can be bestowed. However, we are more than our job, family or any other thing we have accomplished.

Who are we when we lose a job, our house, a marriage or retire from a profession? These are losses and worthy of grief. However, we are still here. Who are we? Who are you? Personally, I thought I had reckoned with this after reflecting on and declaring I was not my work for years. (I had seen the downward slide of lawyer colleagues.) That was until, at 40, I left a professional job at a Fortune 100 company under duress. I have recently thought about the many people losing their jobs under a different type of duress. What is the emotional impact beyond a potential sense of financial insecurity?

We are more than our jobs. We are our gifts that we offer the world. In some spaces, that's a luxury to be able to think this way. If you have the time, reflect on these questions as you so inclined. This may lead you to your work, that which makes your heart sing, instead of a job.

Who am I? What gives me life? What do I do well that makes my heart sing and positively impacts others? What traits and skills do I bring no matter I'm doing?

May you find your work, that which fulfills your soul and benefits the world.

*https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf of over

**https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/16/unemployment-claims-coronavirus/

***https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2017/retirement-health-risks-fd.html