re: "it frames it like this is about the laborer having emotional discipline"
I thought "emotional" had more to do with the person being helped? They may be going through some kind of crisis (having one of the worst days of their lives). Helping them isn't just an obstacle to doing the job; in medical or teaching professions, it often is the job. That's why it's different from another job that might be equally or more physically demanding, but it's just hard work.
Maybe we could distinguish this from jobs serving the public where ordinary, able-bodied adult customers are being demanding for no good reason. But then again, they are probably serving the young, old, sick, etc. some of the time too. That's what serving the public means; you get all kinds.
I thought "emotional" had more to do with the person being helped? They may be going through some kind of crisis (having one of the worst days of their lives). Helping them isn't just an obstacle to doing the job; in medical or teaching professions, it often is the job. That's why it's different from another job that might be equally or more physically demanding, but it's just hard work.
Maybe we could distinguish this from jobs serving the public where ordinary, able-bodied adult customers are being demanding for no good reason. But then again, they are probably serving the young, old, sick, etc. some of the time too. That's what serving the public means; you get all kinds.