In education and employment, some people work harder than others.
Why do some people work harder?
Is it always good to work hard?
Certain individuals are more diligent in their work and studies compared to others. This industriousness largely results from traumatic experiences in one’s childhood. Therefore, working diligently is not necessarily good as it can damage one’s overall well-being.
Some individuals are willing to put more effort into their academic and professional careers because of their negative childhood experiences. People who used to live in a financially precarious situation or were neglected by their loved ones naturally develop negative emotions and insecurities that stay with them into their adulthood. These pent-up emotions motivate people to strive for excellence and surpass others, with the hope that personal achievements can compensate for the void they feel within. For instance, some high-achievers in life might lack parental care in their childhood, and this consequently compels them to gain status and wealth to get the external validation that they never had. However, these achievements tend to be superficial and cannot address the root causes of one’s suffering, resulting in these individuals consistently trying to outwork themselves and never feel truly satisfied.
Despite the wealth generated from spending an excessive amount of time working, this obsession often leads people to suffer from serious health problems. Individuals who regularly sacrifice their sleep and personal hobbies to relentlessly pursue their work goals are at a heightened risk of developing mental health issues. For example, managers in large businesses typically have to work extra shifts on weekends, making them more vulnerable to anxiety disorders and, in more severe cases, depression. The loss of work-life balance can also undermine the quality of interpersonal relationships. A pertinent example of this can be observed in families where parents take regular business trips, as the likelihood of divorce and child neglect in such households is greater.
In conclusion, certain individuals work harder due to their unresolved trauma in the past, and therefore this habit, if it reaches extreme levels, can contribute to deteriorating health and weaker family cohesion. Individuals should seek to find the perfect balance between professional and personal life to achieve true fulfillment.
Words: 341
🔹 B2 Level
diligent : chăm chỉ
industriousness : sự siêng năng
working diligently : làm việc chăm chỉ
overall well-being : sức khỏe và trạng thái tinh thần tổng thể
put more effort into : nỗ lực nhiều hơn vào
academic and professional careers : sự nghiệp học tập và nghề nghiệp
negative childhood experiences : trải nghiệm tuổi thơ tiêu cực
financially precarious situation : hoàn cảnh tài chính bấp bênh
neglected : bị bỏ bê
negative emotions : cảm xúc tiêu cực
adulthood : tuổi trưởng thành
strive for excellence : phấn đấu cho sự xuất sắc
personal achievements : thành tựu cá nhân
gain status and wealth : đạt được địa vị và sự giàu có
serious health problems : vấn đề sức khỏe nghiêm trọng
mental health issues : vấn đề sức khỏe tinh thần
extra shifts : ca làm thêm
work-life balance : cân bằng công việc – cuộc sống
business trips : chuyến công tác
likelihood of divorce : khả năng ly hôn
child neglect : sự bỏ bê con cái
professional and personal life : cuộc sống nghề nghiệp và cá nhân
🔹 C1 Level
traumatic experiences : trải nghiệm sang chấn
not necessarily : không hẳn
damage one’s well-being : gây tổn hại đến sức khỏe tổng thể
pent-up emotions : cảm xúc bị dồn nén
surpass others : vượt qua người khác
compensate for the void : bù đắp khoảng trống (tinh thần)
external validation : sự công nhận từ bên ngoài
superficial : hời hợt, bề nổi
address the root causes : giải quyết nguyên nhân gốc rễ
consistently trying to outwork themselves : liên tục ép bản thân làm việc quá sức
excessive amount of time : lượng thời gian quá mức
relentlessly pursue : theo đuổi không ngừng nghỉ
at a heightened risk of : có nguy cơ cao hơn
vulnerable to : dễ bị tổn thương bởi
anxiety disorders : rối loạn lo âu
undermine the quality of : làm suy giảm chất lượng của
interpersonal relationships : các mối quan hệ giữa người với người
pertinent example : ví dụ phù hợp
unresolved trauma : sang chấn chưa được giải quyết
deteriorating health : sức khỏe suy giảm
family cohesion : sự gắn kết gia đình
true fulfilment : sự thỏa mãn thực sự
🔹 C2 Level
obsession : sự ám ảnh (mức độ cực đoan)
compels them : thôi thúc/buộc họ phải
void they feel within : khoảng trống nội tâm họ cảm nhận
contribute to : góp phần dẫn đến (trong ngữ cảnh tiêu cực học thuật)