Dear Instructors,
I have found much guidance here about how we should lead a ethical life on a personal basis.
However, i find some problems in knowing how to deal with situations that occur from time to time within work.
I work as a self employed joiner in England and on occasions i find myself in the position of having to deal with very materialistic people.
I have been ripped off on several occasions and struggle to know how to deal with these matters.
As i am not particularly motivated by money, i have questioned why i would be bothered by these instances.
From there i have questioned whether it was my ego that took offence to the situation and so learned to just let go and give the other party the win they so desired.
I would dearly love to be freed from the position of having to engage in commerce, but in this day and age that appears to me to be an unatainable dream.
I feel very uncomfortable doing my job at times.
I love to do the work but hate having to deal with money.
However, to run a business i have to pay rent, taxes, and the various other outlay that mean in order to keep going and sustain the business i have to engage in a world that feels alien and uncomfortable to me.
A few years ago i read a book by Manly P Hall where he mentioned about a good Christian banker going to church on Sunday and then foreclosing and stealing someone's home on the Monday.
I have noted that many people i know seem to find a difference between their personal life and working life. Like there exists a dividing line between the two where ethics exist within the personal life, but somehow they become irrelevant within the working life.
In short, how to we remain ethical and deal with eliminating ego when living and dealing in commerce ?