Michael Moynihan on Reducing Anxiety through the Meaning of Work

In the charged "Achievement Culture" we live in today, both parent and student anxiety have skyrocketed. There are the usual culprits, from a changing economic landscape to social media and comparison culture. But ultimately, Michael Moynihan believes our professional and academic anxieties come from a crisis of meaning for the term 'work.' Drawing on his experience as a math teacher, head of the upper school at The Heights, and father of a large family, Mr. Moynihan suggests that we can reduce anxiety by understanding 'work' not as a means of self-optimization or self-advancement, but primarily self-gift. Sanctifying our work tempers both extremes of anxiety and avoidance. Chapters: 5:43 A results-based system meets parental pressure 8:16 Modern crisis of meaning for work 12:03 Helping young people see beyond the immediate, material 14:46 Sanctifying work for anxious students 20:57 Sanctifying work for avoidant students 25:12 Meaningful chores: an antidote to disordered work 28:02 Mastery over grades Links: Answering Anxiety by Michael Moynihan The Father and His Family: A Guidebook for Aspiring, New, and Experienced Fathers by Michael Moynihan Decisive Parenting: Forming Authentic Freedom in Your Children by Michael Moynihan The Talk and Beyond: Raising Children in a Confused Culture by Michael Moynihan The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Children Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Also on the Forum: How to Not Be Anxious as a Parent by Alvaro de Vicente Automaticity: Where 'Rote' Fits into the Liberal Arts featuring David Maxham Automaticity and Creativity by David Maxham Hopeful Parents, Hopeful Sons by Alvaro de Vicente His Anxiety and Ours: Confessions of an Anxious Parent who Happens to Be a Therapist featuring Alex Berthé Featured Opportunities: Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026) Leaders Initiative, a year-long mentoring partnership for school leaders