Some of us are so attached to our work that we identify our value and worth to the world through what we do for a living.

Ultimately, this will lead to us feeling unsatisfied or unhappy in life.

Others will not view what we do on a daily basis with the same importance as we tend to attach to it ourselves.

If we do our jobs well, that is what is expected of us.

So, even though we will feel proud or that we have achieved something worthwhile, we are really only doing what is expected of us by those who employ us or work alongside us.

However, if we have a bad day and make a mistake or don’t perform to the best of our abilities, we will probably be criticised or reprimanded for not meeting expectations.

We can therefore feel deflated both when things go well at work (because not everyone else will share our pride in being productive) and when they don’t go so well (because we are pulled up on it or criticised).

Over the years, it can start to feel like we are slaves to a system that does not have our best interests at heart – we do our best and feel unappreciated, or we make mistakes and feel oppressed.

Good managers and leaders will recognise that this can be a demotivating factor in the workforce and implement strategies and actions that both make people feel appreciated when they are performing well and supported when they have a bad day.

For the vast majority of us who are not lucky enough to work for good managers, it may help us to remember the teachings of Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching:

Success is as dangerous as failure

Hope is as hollow as fear…….

..He who clings to his work

will create nothing that endures.

If you want to accord with the Tao, 

just do your job, then let go.