The global mental health industry market value is $410 billion, and the estimated market value by 2030 is $580-600 billion. Why is it increasing despite all the advancements in science and technology?
The heart of the problem is the problem of the human heart. As humans, we are vulnerable and do not have the power or wisdom to overcome exploitative influences in our lives. Some turn to work, others to organized religion to address human vulnerabilities.
Workplace culture and religion share several similarities in how they address human vulnerabilities. Here are ten ways;
Providing a sense of belonging:
Religion: Offers community through congregations and shared beliefs.
Workplace: Creates team spirit and company identity.
Both address the human need for social connection and group identity.
Offering structure and routine:
Religion: Provides rituals, prayer times, and holy days.
Workplace: Establishes work schedules, meetings, and annual events.
Both cater to the human desire for predictability and structure.
Defining purpose and meaning:
Religion: Offers explanations for existence and life's purpose.
Workplace: Provides mission statements and role-specific objectives.
Both address the human need for meaning and direction in life.
Establishing moral codes:
Religion: Provides ethical guidelines through scriptures and teachings.
Workplace: Sets codes of conduct and company values.
Both guide behavior and decision-making, addressing the need for moral frameworks.
Offering rewards and punishments:
Religion: Promises afterlife rewards or consequences.
Workplace: Provides promotions, bonuses, or disciplinary actions.
Both leverage the human response to incentives and consequences.
Creating hierarchies:
Religion: Has clergy, lay leaders, and congregants.
Workplace: Establishes management levels and reporting structures.
Both address the human tendency to seek order and understand one's place in a system.
Providing comfort in uncertainty:
Religion: Offers faith and spiritual explanations for unknowns.
Workplace: Provides job security and career development paths.
Both address anxiety about the future and unknown outcomes.
Fostering a sense of transcendence:
Religion: Connects individuals to something greater than themselves.
Workplace: Aligns individual efforts with larger company goals or societal impact.
Both address the human desire to be part of something bigger.
Creating in-group dynamics:
Religion: Distinguishes believers from non-believers.
Workplace: Differentiates employees from competitors or other departments.
Both leverage the human tendency for tribal thinking and group loyalty.
Offering rituals and traditions:
Religion: Has ceremonies, holidays, and rites of passage.
Workplace: Holds regular meetings, annual retreats, and recognition ceremonies.
Both use rituals to reinforce group cohesion and shared experiences.
These similarities show how workplace culture and religion can address fundamental human needs and vulnerabilities. But neither are the answers to guarding the heart from exploitative influences.
Workplace culture should not be a substitute for personal religious or spiritual beliefs. Work has its place in life. It should not become our life. On the other hand, we cannot compromise our spiritual beliefs because of materialism or financial ambitions.
Growing Mental Health issues represent the need for a deeper introspection of our spiritual beliefs. God is real. Seek God, don't desire to be godlike.
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