There's a popular, useful expression with which we describe something
that has a certain pragmatic utility (if you will). We say
that the thing "works" - or alternatively we say that it
"doesn't work". For example, we say a flashlight
works, a TV works, a laptop computer works, a public telephone works, a
pen etc works ... or not. And on a superficial level when we say a
thing works, we mean it has functionality ie that it
functions well, and in accordance with its
intended
purpose. But at the very fundamental level on the other hand, when we
say something works, we mean it has
integrity
ie that it's whole and has nothing missing. You
could say a bicycle works. But a bicycle with a flat tire and a buckled
wheel for example, has no
integrity.
It can't function in accordance with its
intended
purpose. It doesn't work. It has no workability. You could even
say an Eames chair works if you feel comfortable, relaxed,
and supported
sitting
in it. You could say an Eames chair has workability.
Even a schedule can be said to have workability if it
allows for critical meetings as well as down-time with
family
without sacrificing either, and if it blocks out time to be available
in cases of emergencies, or to co-incide with others' unexpected
availability. A concert and / or a movie could be said to have
workability if the overall experience is enthralling, if the light and
sound sequences fit, if the plot is challenging and intriguing without
being overly complicated. If all of the above features are present, we
may say "That movie really works! The wardrobe really works. The
soundtrack
really works.". Similarly we may say
a collection of art in a
gallery,
works.
We could even say
life works,
and in particular we could say that alife works:
your life, my life. When I earn more than I spend, when I'm taking care
of and being responsible for
my health,
when I'm paying careful
attention to detail
and doing what's wanted and needed in a timely manner,
my life works.
Those examples are a few of what it takes to have
life (and a life) work
ie to have a life that has workability - remembering always that as an
underlying bastion, a life without
integrity
(like a bicycle with a flat tire and a buckled wheel) doesn't have
workability. It doesn't work. Indeed, without
integrity,
nothing works.
So we can articulate features of things which have
workability, and we can articulate features of living life
which have workability. In the same sense, can we articulate specific
characteristics human beings have, which have workability?
That is to say, can we articulate the ways (or at least some of the
ways) a person be's which work ie which can be said to
have workability? Asked another way, what are some of the exercisable
powers available to human beings, which have workability?
The truth is, they're legion. Yet merely listing them
interests
me less than distinguishing the base qualities, without which none of
the above could be present. I'll begin with three. One, being who I
really am. When I look at it, it's almost inconceivable to me that
I could live
a life that works
if I'm not being who I really am. That would be like being
an actor in a play,
not knowing what part I'm playing, yes? Two, being authentic.
For me, being authentic in the realm of being who I really am, is
telling the truth about where I'm not being authentic
about being who I really am. And yes, being authentic has a certain
tautology in it (a tautology is something defined in
terms of itself). Three, being in
integrity.
My cue for
integrity
comes from
Werner:
integrity
is
honoring my word
as mySelf, and maintaining an empowering
context.
With those three base qualities in place (and only when
they're in place), my life has workability when I really
listen,
when I accept my own mind in a way that makes peace possible, when I
express love
in the face of no agreement, when I'm decisive without dithering, when
I'm
happy
in the sense of when I'm fully accepting what is (and what isn't).
Those are some exercisable powers available to all human beings, that
engender
life working.
They're also a few measures for
a life with
workability.