Living in poverty is hard. There are so many things to worry about. Money, food, housing, the list goes on. Sometimes it can feel like all you do is worry. And when you are not worrying, you are working to get what you need doing whatever it takes. This does not make for a happy life. It can be downright miserable if you let it.
At $0$, we have several goals. We are working to get people out of poverty, we are working to change the system that keeps people in poverty, but we are also working to improve the quality of life for those who are stuck in the trap of poverty. Sometimes that means sharing lessons on how to find happiness in even the smallest things.
Buddhism teaches that true enlightenment is found in embracing every moment. There are two koans from Zen Buddhism that sum this up particularly well.
“A monk asked Zhao Zhou to teach him.
Zhao Zhou asked, “Have you eaten your meal?”
The monk replied, “Yes, I have.”
“Then go wash your bowl,” said Zhao Zhou.
At that moment, the monk was enlightened.”
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
This sounds like a bunch of mystic nonsense. How can washing a bowl bring enlightenment? If you are going to do the same thing after enlightenment, then what’s the point? The point is that it isn’t what you do, it’s how you do it. The world is what it is. Sometimes, you cannot change your situation. So your best bet is to change how you look at your situation. Wood always needs to be chopped. Water always needs to be carried. Bowls always need to be washed. That will never change. But if you can change your mind to find satisfaction in doing it, then they are no longer chores.
As it happens, this centuries-old wisdom is backed up by modern-day research. Positive psychology scholar Martin Seligman has written several papers about finding fulfillment in what you do. Even if you can’t do what you love, you can still find satisfaction in learning to love what you do. Find some aspect of your job, or your life and try to do your best at it. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t, just keep trying, or focus on another aspect. The goal is to find satisfaction in living your life as it is while stuck in a situation you cannot change.
