One of our Integral Human Development class sessions was a recollection where we examined our spiritual selves. The session was led by Ms. Macy Eusebio and Mr. Dyames Manez from the Lasallian Pastoral Office.
This session was interactive, as we could share how we are now. We also had exercises such as deep breathing and sharing our thoughts and ideas about the topics discussed.
We watched a video on the concepts of Catholic social teachings discussed by Brother Mike Valenzuela. The video explains that Catholic social teachings are a body of moral reflections and teachings of the church concerning how we organize life together.
The video also talks about the four pillars of Catholic social teaching: Human Dignity, Common Good, Subsidiarity, and Solidarity. Human dignity means to treat others as you would like to be treated. This calls us to pursue the integral well-being and development of all persons through solidarity and providing basic rights.
The common good is defined as the sum of those goods and social conditions that enable all people to live with dignity and develop fully. Common goods are shared goods that benefit everyone, enabling everyone to flourish. Subsidiarity allows people to exercise responsibility and share their gifts for the good of all. It allows people to exercise their judgment, gifts, competence, and creativity in those areas that are appropriate to them.
Lastly, solidarity prioritizes the vulnerable and excluded. Today, certain groups of people are excluded, especially in the workplace. An example would be people with disabilities since they require certain equipment to live their daily lives.
The next topic was about workplace spirituality. According to Pope John Paul II, work should contribute to our dignity as human beings. Spirituality is a person’s way of being, thinking, choosing, and acting in the world according to the ultimate values of that person. It can be expressed within or outside of a religious tradition.
We had an activity where we were divided into groups and shared how we go about our daily lives. After the sharing, we were asked which aspect of the integral development was tackled during the discussion. Most of us were able to tackle different aspects of integral development, while the spiritual aspect is not usually experienced or developed in the workplace.
This session helped me understand the four pillars of Catholic social teachings and the importance of applying these in my day-to-day life. These pillars help people become aware of their actions and how they affect others. In our respective jobs, we should examine how we and if our companies contribute to our society. We should also examine how our companies can advocate for everyone’s rights and make the workplace a safe and inclusive space for everyone.
Some examples of these are if our companies have facilities or equipment for employees with disabilities, having a diversified mix of employees in terms of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, PWDs, etc., and prioritizing diverse applicants when there are job vacancies.
We can find meaning in our respective jobs by reflecting on these things. We can also advocate and raise these needs to our respective companies if it does not yet. Based on my discussions with my classmates, we tend to be so focused on our jobs and meeting deliverables that we lose ourselves and feel “lifeless” or “zombie-like,” which is why we need to find meaning in what we do, especially with our jobs. Spirituality integrates sets of human experiences that bring meaning to existence.
This session helped me realize the importance of workplace spirituality and how it can help us find meaning in the things that we do in our daily lives. In my company, I would volunteer in outreach activities to help others in need. Some outreach activities include medical missions, tree planting, coastal cleanup, and “brigada eskwela.” Activities like these help me give back to the community and find meaning in my life, as I am able to bless others and protect the environment.
I will continue to be more active in activities like these. I also want to be an advocate for mental health since many people also struggle with this and often disregard it because it is seen as a sign of weakness. Topics on mental health are important to be discussed in the workplace because having a heavy workload, working extended hours, and other work-related pressures can be added stressors to one’s mental well-being.
As an HR professional, I am glad that my company has already taken steps in prioritizing diverse talents. For example, certain roles are male-dominated, so we prioritize looking for female candidates with the right skills and capabilities. These are some of the factors that help me find meaning in what I do in the workplace.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He wrote this reflection paper for his class on Integral Human Development. He can be reached at [email protected].
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.