Think about the words work, career and mission. Does each word feel different to you? To most people, the word “work” implies something hard, something you have to do. If you work all day long, you probably don’t enjoy it very much. Career implies a bigger meaning. You’ll devote more energy because you are building toward a greater purpose.
Somebody who has a mission does it because it’s what they’re made for. For them, it’s not work at all. It serves a higher purpose. They’ve discovered how to choose a fulfilling career.
What’s the secret to breaking through in this area and how can you learn how to find fulfilling work? Choose something bigger than yourself that you are willing to work for. Remember — motive does matter!
How to choose a fulfilling career
Today, most people spend more time at work than they do with their family. Between commuting, lunch breaks and working overtime, the average workday could be longer than 10 hours. If you’re going to be spending that much time at work, don’t you want to learn how to choose a fulfilling career?
1. Know your values
Our values and beliefs are instilled in us from a very young age. They come from our parents and caregivers, our experiences with the world and our own psychology – and they create our world. Your values are your “rules” for living and the essence of who you are. You will always be unhappy at work if you choose a career that does not support the ideals that are most meaningful to you.
To determine your values, look within. When are you at your happiest? Perhaps when you’re volunteering, having a deep conversation or reading a good book. These are hints to your values: these actions correspond to values of contribution, connection and growth – three of the Six Human Needs. And they reveal how to find fulfilling work.
