From unsung heroes:
Occupational gifts for a
meaningful life
Rachel Thibeault
Programme d’ergothérapie - Occupational Therapy
Programme
Université d’Ottawa – University of Ottawa
La question de départ:
What are the occupational choices
and strategies that lead to a
healthy and fulfilling life?
Exploring philosophy
• Occupations that foster
the emergence of our
deepest identity
• Choices rooted in justice
and ethics
• Occupations that speak of
an awareness of the
interconnectedness of
life… and are ways of
giving back.
Exploring the works of mystics
Exploring neuroscience
(Ricard , Davidson, Lutz et al, 2004; 2005; 2007)
• Shaping meaningful
intent
• Giving shape to that
intent - doing
• Rewiring neuronal
pathways
Exploring modern psychology
(Erikson, 1976, 1982; Seligman, 2002)
• Good life
• Pleasant life
• Meaningful life
How do we shape a
meaningful life, for ourselves
and our clients?
Let’s draw a parallel
If I were to work on improving physical
health, I would focus on…
•
•
•
•
•
Strength
Endurance
Flexibility
Speed
Accuracy….
And I would use occupations to
match
If I were to work on cultivating meaning,
I would focus on…
•
•
•
•
•
•
Presence
Compassion – love - tenderness
Gratitude
Forgiveness
Justice
Temperance
(Seligman, 2002)
And I would use occupations to
match
What are those occupations?
Exploring real life: 5 occupational
categories from my unsung heroes
Centering
Ephemia - Zambia
Occupations that
foster presence,
awareness and
calmness such as
repetitive tasks,
productive or
« nonproductive »
Contemplation
Ingrid and Annie - South Africa
Occupations such as
prayer, meditation, or
anything that induces awe
of life
Creation
Lakech and Wagaye - Ethiopia
Occupations that
meet the need to
create – even if
only for oneself.
Contribution
Doris and friends – Sierra Leone
Occupations that allow you to give
back, to be a valued, productive
member of your community
Connectedness
Emmanuel - Nicaragua
Occupations that speak of
belonging to your
community, to Life.
How do we know if me make
the right occupational
choices?
Two more lessons
The notion of
« junk occupation »
• Chewing « qat » in Ethiopia
• Spider solitaire for me
• What is yours?
The body as barometer
• Vitality
• Alertness
• Fluidity of movement
• Breathing
• Tone of voice
What I have been given for
my 30 years as an
occupational therapist
An occupational tool box for the
soul
Core elements of
meaning
• Compassion- love
• Gratitude
• Forgiveness
• Justice
• Temperance
With the occupations to
match
• Centering
• Contemplation
• Connectedness
• Creation
• Contribution
“One knows from daily life that one exists for other
people - first of all for those upon whose smiles and
well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and
then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies
we are bound by the ties of sympathy. A hundred times
every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life
are based on the labors of other men, living and dead,
and that I must exert myself in order to give in the
same measure as I have received and am still
receiving...”
Albert Einstein
The world as I see it