Work Can Nurture the Soul


Work can Nurture the Soul

by Dr Elior Kinarthy

Jewish tradition says that our way of life stands on three things of great importance. The study of Torah, work and the doing of good deeds restores the connection to the divine and to your soul. Why is work so important that it is mentioned right after the study of Torah? This ancient wisdom from the Perkei Avot (sayings of the father’s) recognizes the importance of every human being having a purpose in their life through work. I believe that all humans are divine with the spark of life that defines them as creatures of G_d and they have a powerful soul that can create and do wonderful things.

Volunteer work can nurture the soul and can also do the following:

  • Build confidence and self esteem.

  • Develop pride in your accomplishments.

  • Keep your mind occupied so it doesn’t focus on problems.

  • Develop skills which can lead to more earning potential in the future.

Paid work can be transformational, especially if you are disabled.

The psychological benefits of paid work are:

  • enhancing creativity if you are an artist, it helps create independence.

  • higher self-esteem that leads to purchasing healthy food and taking care of your appearance.

  • you become more verbal and more social.

  • your whole lifestyle changes, for the better.

  • If you love your work it enables you to become more spiritual.

If you don’t have work in the present, it could be because you were criticized, neglected and not rewarded for the completion of tasks as a child. Research shows that children copy the lifestyle of the powerful, disciplining parent and reject the lifestyle of the parent who is likeable. The disciplining parent is always the preferred role model. In addition, children lean towards two major personality types depending on their role models, parental upbringing and societal influences.

Psychology refers to these personality types as entrepreneurial and bureaucratic. Entrepreneurs create and produce innovations that are conducive to taking more risks. Only 1 out of 10 people will be entrepreneurial. 90% of the population tend to be the bureaucratic types that are more comfortable engaging in low risk occupations and are satisfied with Sisyphean work. (repetitive activities with the same results). A society that encourages entrepreneurs results in more violence and volatility but is also more innovative. Canadians lean towards more bureaucratic personalities and it is generally a peaceful, happy society.

Leah Kinarthy