The Importance Of Occupation

Occupation is an influential source that brings meaning into our lives (Crabtree, 1998). Meaning and occupation has a reverse relationship with each other. Occupation can arise from meaning and meaning can arise from occupation (Crabtree, 1998). There are several different definitions of occupation that have been formulated in the past. An overall definition of occupation is as conversant and ordinary things that bring engagement in self-initiated, self-direct, purpose, meaning to individuals, community, or culture on a daily basis (Crabtree, 1998). There is a distinct difference between occupations and activities. Occupations is an individual’s experience that provides meaning, whereas activities are culturally described as a session of

Occupations contributes to the identity of an individual and their community. The meaningful occupations one may perform contributes to the uniqueness of the individual that differentiates them from everyone else. To truly understand one’s identity, the occupations one performs in their daily life must be recognized. Occupations allow an individual to be able to express themselves socially, physically, and mentally. They provide an individual with meaning and purpose to activity participate every day. Without meaningful occupations, one may become depression or feel they do not have purpose in this world. This relates to the significance that occupations play in one’s life. Providing an individual with meaningful occupations, allows the individual to have a greater quality of

“Being” is our sense of who we are (Crabtree, 1998). One’s “being can be altered with different experiences or changes in one’s life. Occupational therapy is a profession that can contribute to the change of one’s state of “being”. For instance, in Crabtree’s article “Meaning in Everyday Occupations” (1998) explains scenario of an infant who had a spinal cord injury which enables him to sit right-up on his own. The infant encountered this injury from an automotive accident. The baby was the happiness when he was sitting in his height chair that allows him to be in the right-up position. When the infant is removed from the height to the ground and laid in supination position, the infant gets depressed. The infant is sad because he is unable to actively play with his toys from any position beside the right side-up one. The occupational therapist created a vest that allows the infant to be in the right side-up position without assistances. This allows the infant to actively participant in play with his toys. In this example, the occupational therapist changes the infant’s state of “being” by creating a supportive vest. This allow the infant to be back in the state of “being” he was in before the automotive accident. Occupational therapy allows an individual to live as best as possible no matter what their capabilities or disabilities they may have. They enable an