From unsung heroes: Occupational gifts for a

meaningful life

Rachel ThibeaultProgramme d’ergothérapie - Occupational Therapy

ProgrammeUniversité 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

CenteringEphemia - Zambia

Occupations that foster presence, awareness and calmness such as repetitive tasks, productive or « non-productive »

ContemplationIngrid and Annie - South Africa

Occupations such as prayer, meditation, or anything that induces awe of life

CreationLakech and Wagaye - Ethiopia

Occupations that meet the need to create – even if only for oneself.

ContributionDoris and friends – Sierra Leone

Occupations that allow you to give back, to be a valued, productive member of your community

ConnectednessEmmanuel - 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