Are
You Happy
With Your Job?
by Marie T. Russell
We have
been raised in a society where careers have been given
much importance... important consideration has always
been given to money earned, retirement benefits, chances
of advancement, etc. Much has also been said about "permanency",
"seniority", and financial "success".
Considering
that most of us spend half of our waking hours working
at a job, it might really serve to pay more attention to
one's level of job satisfaction. In other words, do
you enjoy your work? Do you get up in the morning glad
to be heading out to another day of work, or is it a
burden that you feel you must bear? Do you finish your
day invigorated from your day's accomplishments? Do
you feel proud of what you have achieved or have you
spent the day watching the clock wondering when this
workday is going to end...
Investigating
these questions in order to increase your sense of
well-being in every aspect of your life involves a
certain amount of risk. It is easier, in a certain way,
to remain like the proverbial ostrich with one's head
in the sand, than to acknowledge that one is unsatisfied
with one's work. Taking the risk of seeing your
dissatisfaction and deciding to make some positive
changes is a step that will bring you untold pleasure
and well-being.
If you
realize that you are indeed not happy in what you are
doing, the next question involves connecting with what
you could do that you would enjoy. A first step is to
write a list of ten things you enjoy doing. These do not
in any way have to be related to a particular job or
career... maybe you enjoy being outside in the sun, or
maybe you love to spend time talking with people, or
maybe you enjoy working with your hands... Do not limit
yourself by excluding things for which you do not have
the experience, the money, the training, the resources
(etc. etc.)... Simply list ten things you would enjoy
doing. Look over your list and select the one pleasure
that you would like to receive money for.
Next
make another list of ten things you could do that would
provide a service to others while doing this particular
thing you enjoy. For example, if you enjoy walking, some
possible job opportunities could be delivering mail or
conducting tours. If you enjoy being with animals,
working at the zoo or becoming a veterinarian would be a
good avenue for you. If you enjoy speaking to people and
listening to their life stories, then working with the
elderly would be one direction to go. Go through your
second list and pick out your favorite way of providing
a service for people.
Now
write a list of ten ways that you could make this idea
into a financial success, and start putting them into
effect, one by one. Many people experience that when
they become self-employed they get an immense amount of
satisfaction out of having created their own business.
Though they work longer hours, they enjoy seeing the
results of their efforts. This new career doesn't
necessarily involve starting your own business. You may
prefer working for someone else and will find that many
people have existing businesses and are looking for
motivated and dynamic people to assist them. Get clear
on what you would enjoy doing, and then go out there and
start looking for it or start creating it.
Often
there are ways of making money that are "right up your
alley", and you may simply have not been looking in
that direction. A client was sharing with me recently
that she was "sick and tired" of working in an
office, and she wanted a change, yet could not see what
she could possibly do as she had no other work
experience. I went through this process with her and she
came to the realization that she would like to work in a
day-care center, and eventually possibly open her own
day care. She also realized that this was something she
had wanted to do years ago, and had never acted upon.
Perhaps
you also have things you would like to do, "hopes and
dreams" that you have buried deep in your subconscious
since your childhood, and have not acted upon for
whatever reason. Maybe you thought you didn't have the
necessary talent, experience, resources, etc.
Yet,
anything you have a love for, any activity you have a
desire to be doing, is certainly something you could be
doing. Edwene Gaines, prosperity teacher and seminar
leader, once replied to someone who was inquiring how
they could know if something was their "Divine purpose"..."It
must be fun! If it is not fun, it is not meant for you."
In other words, it serves us best to enjoy what we are
doing.
We are
meant to be happy, and if we follow our heart and our
inner guidance, we will always be led to what is best
for us.
ENJOY
YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR ENJOYMENT. ENJOY YOUR WORK AND
WORK AT WHAT YOU ENJOY!
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