I loved this movie the very first time I saw it especially since I was living in Northern California during the dot com boom. It was the kind of movie that made us laugh, but we all felt we could relate to on some level. The cubicle farms, long hours, and endless amount of traffic were a testament to the Silicon Valley culture of the late 1990’s. Although Office Space is hilarious, I think it is a social commentary on the state of our lives. I’m sure at this point you must be wondering what kind of personal development lessons I could draw from a movie like Office Space. So, let’s get right to it.
The most valuable lessons we can learn from the movie Office Space are the power of letting go and the power of indifference. Look at the behavior of the main character, Peter. When the movie starts, he’s a constant stress case about his job, he’s in a relationship with a girl who’s making his life a living hell and cheating on him. What is interesting to note is the results that occur from his change in behavior. After he stops caring, all of these wonderful things start to happen in his life. When the girlfriend that he hates calls, rather than putting up with her, he just hangs up the phone, and goes on to meet somebody he likes much more. At the office, he has absolutely no concern for getting ahead or making more money, yet he gets promoted. I’m not advocating that you behave in this manner at work, but I think you can learn something from his overall attitude.
Leo Babuta wrote an interesting post on Zen Habits about embracing what emerges, and noted that fact we can’t always predict the future. Yet, with our careers and jobs we have so much attachment to the future. Peter’s attitude in Office Space is a true testament to the fact that with indifference to outcomes and detachment, comes great power. By contrast his friends who are stressed and worried end up getting fired. When you are attached to an outcome, you are actually fearing loss, and the law of attraction goes to work, and that loss is exactly what you experience, loss. When you die, it’s highly unlikely that you will think “I should have put in more hours at the office or gotten that promotion.” Chances are it won’t matter at all and you wont’ care one bit. So, why wait? Start living today!!!
Tags: perception, personal development, office space, life lessons
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What a great post! I love Office Space, but never thought about it in the context that you’ve presented here. Awesome!
Hi Srinivas,
You make an excellent point. It’s hard for the mind to understand that most of our unhappiness and unease is result of our superstitious concepts of time. When we can be aware and present, full immersed in the Now, unattached to future outcome and uninfluenced by past conditioning, life flows miraculously.
Thinking in terms of at this present moment. This now essence, brings us to the root of thought and outcome. We have to let things flow naturally. Doing what you love to do is a great way to let things flow. With- out thinking about the rewards or the difficulties,we must immerse our selves in the light of our purpose/existence.
Hi Srinivas – I love the move Office Space and I think you’ve pulled out some great lessons we can all learn from. This is a perfect post for me right now as there are some outcomes that I’m hoping for that I think I’m getting too attached to. I love Peter’s attitude in this movie, and as funny as it is, there is something valuable about it too.
Amanda,
What do you mean your getting attached to your outcomes. Is that a good thing or bad thing?
Hi Jonathan – I just mean that instead of focusing on the process of achieving an outcome (which is the part we all have more control over) I’m too attached to the result (which we have a lot less control over). I would prefer to simply do the things that are within my control and let the universe handle the outcome.
Thanks Amanda, I think that is the way to live. Just do what you can and allow the
universe to take care of the rest. Have you been doing that lately?