🔎 工作的意義
最近在思考，到底，工作對我們的意義是什麼？
我幾乎有大半輩子（從國中、高中開始）就一直在尋找「熱情」，我很討厭那些社會認為的框架，我不想選那些大家認為「比較好的工作」，所謂比較好的工作，當然是收入好的工作，例如醫師、律師、會計師。我只想要選那些「我想做的工作」「我想學的內容」，所以高中的時候，我超積極在關注各大學辦的營隊，畢竟一年只有一個暑假，所以升高二的時候，我參加了彰師大的教育心理營，升高三的時候，參加了台藝大的廣電營。
這也是我後來選擇念廣電系廣播組這種夕陽產業的原因，當時參加的營隊中，都有小小的體驗那個職業的機會，教育心理營裡面有團體諮商、認識情緒等活動，廣電營裡面忙死了，要做節目、做廣告、也要進錄音室錄音。
而我，就是在戴上耳機、對著麥克風講話那一刻，就一見鍾情於廣播了。
💖 跟隨熱情的選擇
跟戀愛腦一樣，一切都憑感覺，也不管這個科系未來有沒有發展，推甄填了政大廣電（沒上）、個人申請也只寫一所世新廣電廣播組（上了），然後也不想考指考，就這樣，不聽廣播的我，成為了廣播組的學生，也在大學畢業後，就進入電台當主播。
當主播聽起來真的很威，可惜媒體產業真的很辛苦，能給的待遇也很低，我就是一個時薪主播ＸＤ最好的福利是因為要早上六點到公司，所以可以搭計程車去上班。
講了一堆阿里阿雜，我這麼沒重點的人，只是想要表達，選擇科系、選擇工作，我一向是選擇那個我想要的、我感覺對的，而不是那個會賺錢的，因為我覺得熱情比較重要。
🌱 滿足感與成就感
所以無論是以前做過的廣播，或是現在做的Podcast，都是不賺錢的專業，可是讓我有無限的滿足感、成就感，30歲以前，我正職的月薪都沒超過台幣三萬五，我也不把賺大錢當作人生價值的目標，更不會以賺多少來評判一個人成功，或是不成功。
再看到另外一件讓我喜歡，可是也不太賺大錢的事情，就是教學。其實現在想想，雖然當初大學沒有選擇教育心理，但我一直沒有離開這個領域，大學畢業就跑去人本教育基金會的數學想想當志工、當助教，你問我為什麼要做那些事情？我就是想，想學習、喜歡小孩、喜歡教育，即使偏鄉小孩對我撒著一大把的蚯蚓想要嚇我，我想的都是該怎麼幫他、他怎麼了？他家裡發生什麼事？
是的，我對心理學感到著迷，無論是電子書櫃、youtube頻道、podcast節目，追蹤的大部分都跟身心靈有關，當然可能也跟感情經驗有關，我覺得這些事情先放在自己身上最有用，是最棒的投資，不是為了想要得到一個頭銜，也不是為了想要賺到多少錢，而去做那件事。
🏆 肯定自己的職業選擇
所以在職業上的選擇，我是一直很肯定自己、很看得起自己的，我肯定自己選擇的是有感覺的職業、甚至有熱情的志業，廣播、podcast、華語教學，甚至到最近開始學習的life coach，每一項技能的起頭，都是沒有收費的，30歲以後，因緣際會，開始經營自媒體，對金錢的想法改變，認識顯化，開始去想要怎麼把每一項我會的事情，我想給予這世界的能量，轉化為金錢，這不是一種奪取，而是一種能量交換，開始體驗什麼是你想要的宇宙會給你，以及一切都會足夠，一切都會自然豐盛。
轉眼間，成為自由工作者或者一人公司後，也邁入第六年了！天哪！好像走到了一個以前自己想到沒想過的境界，以前的我看著現在的我，一定會羨慕死吧！可以一邊旅行、一邊工作，而且仍然堅持只做自己喜歡有感覺的事情，這是多麽大的幸運跟幸福啊！
🌍 自由工作者的挑戰
然而，最近我開始思考工作的意義，以前看蔡璧名老師聊莊子，我都覺得好仙啊、好遠啊，不可能吧？現代社會，大家都是要為五斗米折腰的，起床通勤上班，在辦公室待一天，然後回家煮晚餐，顧老顧小，我已經過上不用打卡上班、地點自由，想去哪裡就去哪裡的日子，可是莊子好像要我們放下更多更多，成為自由工作者以後，每年也會有自己的KPI，第一年的目標是養活自己、收支平衡、不用睡公園。第二年的目標是達到台灣最低薪資，如果能發年終獎金給自己就更好了，第三年開始，可能希望穩定加薪多少，或者經營的頻道要突破多少點閱、KPI等等，就算是自雇者，也是有好多好多目標要達成啊！
那麼，莊子說的是真的嗎？是可行的嗎？以身心為首要優先的狀況，起床先練功兩小時，再吃飯，然後才工作，那麼半天都結束了呀！即使我做著喜歡的工作，也在不同國家旅行，但是還是會有burn out的時候呀？！
🧘♀️ 哲學與自由思考
在莊子逍遙遊裡面，談到如何設定人生目標，並不是如何FIRE達到財務自由，相反的，如果你想要達到真正的「逍遙」、真正的「自由」，必須「無待」，也就是不依賴外在條件或力量，完全依靠內在的自性，達成無己、無功、無名，才是真正的「逍遙」。
而莊子的逍遙遊概念，實實在在打臉了所有現代社會。
我們多麽愛追逐好的頭銜、好的待遇、好的職位，又或者不同於朝九晚五的自由工作者、創業當老闆、遠距工作、地點自由、時間自由等等。我覺得他們其實最終，都是工作ＸＤ這兩天在看保羅米勒寫的「無路之路」看到古希臘人甚至覺得不應該一直工作，你應該只工作到-賺到你需要的前，就該停止工作。
就是這麼諷刺，就算你做的工作，是你喜歡的、是遠距工作、是有熱情的、是百大企業（超好的福利待遇，有吃不完的零食、有健身房、有語言學習、有幼稚園），可是這些都是工作！都是外在世界、是不可控的！更不能代表你所有的價值！
💡 人生優先排序
所以，到底是哪裡出錯了？
我感覺好像必須把自己人生的優先價值觀重新排序，需要好好列出哪些事情讓我感受到活著真好、哪些事情讓我覺得沒錢也值得做，哪些事情就是體驗一個單純身為人的美好，而老生常談的是，在你要進行所有體驗之前，最重要的是健康，身心靈的健康。
寫到這裡，覺得呀～我是不是就是老了呢，當你發現曾經追逐過的很多目標，其實好像都可以不那麼重要，或者排序不用放在那麼前面，因為人生真的有很多面向要顧到，好好生活、鍛鍊自己的身心靈肌肉、體驗跟感受每一個當下，好像才是更能穩定安心的。
🌸 放下與自由
然後突然覺得追的事情隨時可以放下，就像當初考高中基測、考大學學測，一考完，直接把所有的模擬試題、參考書全部紙類回收，好像夢一場。那麼其實追逐好幾年的工作，可能是職場上的職位一階一階往上爬、可能是薪水一年比一年高、可能是地點自由開始數位遊牧、可能是經營自己的專業興趣變成個人品牌，也都是夢一場啊！
🔎 The Meaning of Work
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this question: what does work really mean to us?
For most of my life (since middle and high school), I’ve been searching for “passion.” I’ve always disliked society’s rigid frameworks. I never wanted to choose what people considered “better jobs”—you know, the ones with high income, like doctors, lawyers, or accountants. Instead, I only wanted to choose the jobs I actually wanted to do, the things I wanted to learn.
That’s why in high school, I was super proactive about joining university camps. Since there’s only one summer break a year, I made the most of it. After my sophomore year, I joined the Education Psychology camp at National Changhua University of Education. The next year, I joined the Broadcasting & Television camp at National Taiwan University of Arts.
These experiences shaped my decision later on to major in Radio & TV broadcasting—yes, a so-called “sunset industry.” At those camps, we got hands-on experiences of the profession. At the psychology camp, we did group counseling and learned about emotions. At the broadcasting camp, we were overloaded with tasks: making shows, producing ads, even recording in the studio.
And the moment I put on headphones and spoke into a microphone—I completely fell in love with radio.
💖 Following Passion
Just like falling in love, I followed my feelings without worrying whether this major had a “future.” I applied only to two broadcasting programs—didn’t get into NCCU, but got into Shih Hsin University’s Radio & TV department. I didn’t even bother with the national exam. And so, even though I never really listened to radio, I became a radio student—and later, a radio anchor after graduation.
“Anchor” sounds so cool, but in reality, the media industry is tough, with very low pay. I was basically a part-time, hourly anchor (XD). The best perk was getting a free taxi ride to work at 6 a.m.
I know I’m rambling here, but my point is: when it comes to choosing a major or career, I’ve always gone with what felt right—not what made money. Because for me, passion has always mattered more.
🌱 Fulfillment and Satisfaction
That’s why whether it was radio back then, or podcasting now, I’ve chosen work that doesn’t really make money—but brings me endless fulfillment and satisfaction.
Before 30, I never had a full-time salary higher than NT$35,000. But I never saw “making lots of money” as the goal of life. I also don’t measure a person’s success by how much they earn.
Another thing I love—though it doesn’t make much money either—is teaching. Looking back, even though I didn’t major in education psychology, I never really left that path. After graduating, I volunteered and worked as a teaching assistant at the Humanistic Education Foundation. Why did I do those things? Simply because I wanted to learn, I liked kids, I liked education. Even when kids in rural areas tried to scare me by throwing earthworms at me, my first thought was: How can I help them? What’s happening in their family?
Yes, I’ve always been fascinated by psychology. My e-book library, YouTube subscriptions, podcasts—all mostly revolve around psychology, spirituality, and self-growth. And maybe that’s connected to my relationship experiences too. But I believe the best use of this knowledge is to first apply it to myself. It’s the best investment—not for a title, not for money, but for growth.
🏆 Affirming My Career Choices
So, when it comes to career choices, I’ve always felt proud of myself. I chose careers that felt right, that sparked passion: radio, podcasting, Chinese teaching, and now even life coaching. Every new skill I started with—I didn’t charge money for it.
But after turning 30, life shifted. By chance, I started running my own media platforms, shifted my mindset about money, learned about manifestation, and began exploring how to transform what I love—my energy, my gifts to the world—into income. Not as taking, but as an energy exchange. I began experiencing what it means when the universe gives you what you want, and how abundance flows naturally.
Now, six years into freelancing—wow, how did that happen?! The old me would be so jealous of my current self. To travel and work at the same time, while only doing things I love—that’s such a rare blessing.
🌍 The Challenges of Freelancing
And yet, I’ve recently been rethinking the meaning of work.
When I used to hear Professor Bi-Ming Tsai talk about Zhuangzi, it all sounded so mystical, so far away, so impossible. After all, in modern society, people work hard just to survive: commuting, working all day in an office, then going home to cook and take care of family.
Now, I’ve escaped the 9-to-5 grind. I can work wherever I want. But even as a freelancer, I set KPIs for myself every year.
- Year one: Just survive—break even, don’t end up sleeping in a park.
- Year two: Earn at least Taiwan’s minimum wage. Bonus if I can pay myself a year-end bonus.
- Year three: Aim for salary growth or higher viewership numbers.
Even as a self-employed person, there are endless goals!
So is Zhuangzi’s idea really possible? If the priority is health and inner well-being, that means waking up, practicing for two hours, eating, then working—half the day’s gone already! Even though I love what I do, and travel while working, I still get burned out.
🧘♀️ Philosophy and Free Thinking
In Zhuangzi’s Free and Easy Wandering, he talks about life goals—not about achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early). Instead, he says real “freedom” comes from wudai (無待)—not relying on external conditions, but completely trusting your inner nature. True freedom comes from letting go of ego, achievements, and fame.
This idea directly challenges modern society.
We chase titles, salaries, and positions. Or we chase “freedom” through freelancing, entrepreneurship, remote work, time flexibility, location independence. But at the end of the day—it’s still work!
Recently, I’ve been reading Paul Miller’s The Pathless Path. He mentions how ancient Greeks believed we shouldn’t work endlessly—you should only work until you’ve earned enough, then stop.
Isn’t that ironic? Even if your job is your passion, remote, flexible, or at a Fortune 500 company with endless perks (snacks, gyms, language classes, daycare)—it’s still work. It’s external. It’s not fully in your control. And it doesn’t define your worth.
💡 Reordering Life Priorities
So, where did we go wrong?
I feel like I need to reorder my life’s priorities. To clearly list: What makes me feel alive? What’s worth doing even without money? What experiences remind me of the simple beauty of just being human?
And, of course, the timeless truth: before anything else, the most important thing is health—body, mind, and spirit.
Maybe it’s just a sign I’m getting older, but I’m realizing that many of the goals I once chased aren’t actually that important—or at least, they don’t need to be at the top of the list. Life has many dimensions: living well, strengthening body and mind, experiencing each moment fully—that feels like a more grounded path.
🌸 Letting Go and Finding Freedom
And suddenly, I realize: the things we chase can always be let go of. Just like after taking high school or university entrance exams, I immediately recycled all my test prep books—it all felt like a dream.
Maybe the same goes for careers we chase for years—climbing the corporate ladder, earning higher salaries, becoming digital nomads, or turning passions into personal brands. In the end, they’re just dreams too.
