The average 40-hour work week has become known as "the grind" for a reason. To most people it symbolizes stress and strain on an ongoing basis. I am fairly sure that having to deal with fellow workers, deadlines, and long hours is not at the top of your fun activities list. You would probably rather be on an island sipping a drink with a little umbrella on it.

So, is it possible to find peace and happiness right in the midst of a hectic work week, or are we doomed to live life always waiting for things to be different before we feel content? Is there a way that you can feel good now, regardless of what your current work situation is? The answer is a resounding yes.

This article is going to give you a new outlook on your workday and prove that your week does not have to be the grind that it has been up until this point.

First off, let's look at exactly what causes you to feel stress and tension during your week at work. It is usually the same basic things for almost everybody with only slight variations. Maybe you have an annoying co-worker who just won't stop talking and interrupts you when you are trying to work. Maybe you have a superior who is always breathing down your neck, trying to get more out of you. Perhaps you work long hours and don't get to see your family as much as you would like. The list could go on and on. The question is: Are these situations responsible for the way you feel about work or is it something else… something hidden in your mind that you don't yet see clearly… a way of thinking that causes stress and suffering perhaps? Let's take a look.

Pretend it's Friday afternoon. You are ready for a relaxing and laid-back weekend. At 4:00 your supervisor enters the room. He tells you that a sudden last minute project has come up, and he needs you to work through the weekend. In a moment like this most people would feel frustrated, angry, and depressed. They would say that the reason they feel bad is because they have to work all weekend. They would think that there job or their boss was the source of the pain they feel.

The truth is that your boss or the fact that you have to work this weekend is not the cause of your pain. The thoughts that your mind produces about the situation are where the root of pain actually lies. The reason you feel bad is because you believe these stressful thoughts to be true and necessary. Thoughts like, "I shouldn't have to work," "My job is terrible," "I'll be stuck here forever," "I can't handle this." These thoughts are what cause all the misery you feel when things don't go the way you want. The situation you blame only triggered them. They sit in your consciousness, dormant until a specific event brings them to your attention.

When thoughts like this get triggered you have only two options. You can either blame the situation or event, or you can investigate into what you are thinking and believing. Because the truth is, you are in a situation you choose to be in. You could choose quit your job, but you don't want to… and you have a list of reasons why. These reasons are all your choices as well. So, you are where you are, and you can choose to investigate the stressful thoughts instead of being victim to them.

Once you bring your attention to the real cause of all stress and pain its end is near. Look forward to stressful encounters at work or anywhere in your life. They can be of great benefit to your personal development because they clearly show you the stressful thoughts you believe.

Try this for a little experiment. The next time you start to feel stressed or angry at work or anywhere else, notice what thoughts are going through your mind. What is your mind trying to get you to believe? Write these thoughts down and question whether or not you can absolutely know if they are true. See how they make you feel and if they are really giving you anything other than stress.

Once you see the negative payoff of pain you receive for believing thoughts that argue with reality, they will lose their power over you. You will stop believing the lies they tell you. Then, you can take action from a place of strength and clarity. You will no longer be acting from anger and stress but instead, from poise and command. From this position your work week will become effortless.

Make it a practice to notice your stressful thoughts and look to see if they are really telling the truth. This is the way to peace and happiness without having to change anything but your thinking.