From Restless To Fulfilled: Aspects of Meaningful Work
We’ve talked plenty on this blog about living a “meaningful life” or a “life of purpose and vision,” but what does that actually mean when we extend the words, purposeful and meaningful to our work? If you often find yourself feeling unmotivated, restless, overwhelmed or unfulfilled in your work it’s likely because you’re missing the most important aspects of meaningful work. I will uncover those for you in detail in this blog in hopes that it will unlock something inside of you that gives you permission (not that you needed it) to step into your most authentic, purpose-driven self.
When I graduated college (which feels like forever ago now) and got my first real world job in a physical rehabilitation clinic; I thought I would feel some sense of success. After all, I had finally made it right? I finished school, I was engaged, I was making my own money and I had plans to conquer shit! I had done all the things the world and my family told me was normal and yet….. I still felt like something was missing. I was restless. Was this really what we were put here to do — go to school, work, vacation time, family, retire, die? Was this really it? Maybe you can relate to this at some point in your life or maybe you’re there now.
Why does this happen? We achieve so much in our first 22-23 years. Shouldn’t we be grateful and feel blessed?
No. We shouldn’t and here’s why — each one of us was put here to live in our own unique purpose, but instead people are buying into the narrative of the “hustle culture” where you work tirelessly to achieve the next dollar amount, social status, or work promotion only to feel lackluster when you actually achieve it. External achievements will NOT fill internal holes.
People often choose their career path based on 2 things: fear or desire.
Fear: In the face of fear you pick your career path or your particular business venture because it will bring you security and safety in the form of a dollar amount or the idea that a certain profession, “isn’t going anywhere so you’ll always have a job or something to fall back on if it doesn’t work out.”
Desire: You chose this path because it will bring you personal gratification through your success and therefore your success is based on material possession, achievements, or social status. Think of a doctor who became a doctor because of the money and status a doctor receives versus the desire to help people who are in need.
The problem with the 2 listed above is that fear is not sustainable and success does NOT equal happiness. Happiness is an internal thing while success is an external accolade. Think about it, how many successful people do you know that are miserable?
Instead, when we approach our work with DUTY and LOVE something very different happens — you have conviction that what you do MATTERS. You have purpose and meaning behind your work and that work is helping to change the world. Happiness comes and goes — my dog dies tomorrow I won’t be happy or joyful. When I’m living with purpose and meaning, I’m living and working from a place of duty and love regardless of my external environment.
That is what you were put here to do. Change the world through your work. That gives your work meaning. So what are the things that will help you identify that work and how to do it? Keep reading.
Despite its butterflies and rainbows connotation, pursuing a career or business that matches your PASSION doesn't always give way to the bliss that you think it will. In fact, the grandiose nature of the word “passion” itself can lead you to believe in preconceived notions of what that life should look like and potentially, to miss positive opportunities falling outside that rigid definition. Starting a business or taking a job solely based on passion and thing that passion will propel you, is stupid.
Instead of chasing a career that you believe reflects your passion points, find these 3 things and you’ll discover meaning in your work:
Creativity: does this work allow you to be curious and creative in your own way? Many people go to work and perform the same monotonous tasks every day. More over, you may have started a business based on your creative abilities only to have trapped yourself in the minutia of the day in - day out business grind that you have now lost all passion and creativity towards your own work! Ask your self how can your curiosity and your creativity provide meaning to the world. If you can change something for someone or change an industry in a positive way through your work, how would you do it?
Challenge: does your work challenge you to grow? I often use a sports analogy here such as imagining you were a basketball player. We are going to play a little 1 on 1. If I’m a decent player you’re going to feel a challenge and you’ll probably step up your game to meet that challenge, but if I suck, then its probably not going to be very fun or meaningful to you. Apply this same idea to your work. If you are doing work that truly matters and you plan to leave an imprint on this world through that meaningful work — it ain’t gonna be easy. Having work that is a challenge will also spark your creativity and provide you with a little extra motivation.
Autonomy: are you in control of your outcome? If you’ve ever had a sales job where you were paid on commission you likely worked your ass off because the more you worked the more control you had over your paycheck. Apply this same idea to your business — what is the outcome you desire to create for your purpose? This will undoubtedly create a positive outcome for you. Meaningful work means that you are in control of your own output and therefore in control of the changes you make. An autonomous person has the ability to act on their interests and VALUES despite what the external world might be saying.
If you want to live your most profound life, aligning your purpose with your work can do nothing BUT have a positive affect on that. I often tell people who are grasping at straws and trying everything under the sun or to make any sort of money that their main issue lies in their lack of purpose. When you know and understand your purpose and you’re working in that meaning, it’s very easy to say no to any opportunity that doesn’t align with that pupose. It works sort of like a filter for all your decisions.
Wouldn’t it be great to have this purpose every day when you woke up? To feel aligned and motivated in meaning rather than scattered, restless and overwhelmed? Go find it my friends.
Stay Edgy,
Daniel Tribby, ATC, CEAS, ITAT, CNP
Co-Founder, The Edgy Entrepreneur, LLC
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