I really wonder how satisfaction surveys work in companies. The surveys might help in bringing to the table the concerns that the employees have. But it can hardly lead to any increase in the satisfaction level of the employees. Based on these surveys, the companies devise an action plan to address the concerns and work on the areas of improvement. However, the next year's survey will bring some new issues and the satisfaction level will more of less be the same. The sole reason for this is that it is not human nature to be satisfied.
We humans are a bunch of cribbers. We can crib* about anything and everything. As the famous line in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. goes - 'Mehnagai ki maar se lekar cricket team ki haar tak' - from the burdens of inflation to the loss in a sport, we crib about everything. And we continue to grumble even when the things change as we want them to be. For example, we used to crib when the earlier head of our Government didn't speak much and we crib now when the successor speaks too much of his Mann ki Baat. Courtesy the profession, I have attended a lot of exit interviews where people quote that they are not satisfied with the salary. The matter of fact is no one is ever satisfied with the earnings that one makes. Jim Carrey very wisely said - "I wish everyone becomes rich and get everything they want, so that they can understand that it's not the answer."
Our needs evolve, which is quite accurately depicted by the Maslow's Pyramid. But are we satisfied when we achieve any of the levels? Or are we satisfied when we reach the top of this pyramid? If not then what can we do to achieve satisfaction? Well, I am not saint or preacher to answer that. I too am a seeker of the answer to this question which compelled me to put up this blog. Our expectations grow with the fulfillment of each of our needs. So is expectation the problem? I do not believe so. Because expectation is what keeps one going. An expectation means something is there to look forward to. Having no expectations is like living without any dreams and leaving things to destiny. So what is missing?
I guess we are missing some realization at our end which is acting as a hurdle in the path of our satisfaction, the realization to be thankful. From 'Vadani kawal gheta' (A Marathi prayer to be recited before meals) to 'Thank you God for the food we eat', our ancestors have passed on a tradition of being thankful. But as we move and the times and traditions change, we are becoming less thankful and more dissatisfied. While complaining to our mother about the taste of food, we lack the realization that at least there is food at our table. There are many households where the children are sleeping hungry. While feeling sad about living in a one room flat, we forget that there are numerous people with no roofs on their heads. While cribbing about one's job and pay, we forget about the amount of unemployment in the world. We should be thankful for the food, the shelter, the job and all other things that we have than for the things we desire to have.
Another thing which in my view and with my experience can lead to satisfaction is giving back to the society. Nana Patekar profoundly said, "God has given humans two hands because whatever can be occupied in those two hands is sufficient for the human. Anything beyond that should be given back to the society before it falls of your hands." Only a person with such an empathy can pull people towards a successful campaign called NAAM which helps the farmers in Maharashtra and curb suicides. And there is no lower limit for any help. Whichever way one can help humanity in whatever capacity will act as one's contribution towards society.
Satisfaction is a state of mind which can be achieved with efforts towards being thankful and giving back to the society. With achievement of each level of needs, we should be more and more thankful for being able to do so and more and more giving. Rather than asking the question 'Am I satisfied?', we should ask ourselves 'Am I thankful? Am I helpful?' and the satisfaction will flow in.
PS - Crib* - This is an adapted word, generally used in Indian context to imply complain or grumble.
