Have you ever had this conversation with someone, perhaps even yourself. It goes something like this; I wish I could find a different job. My job sucks, my boss does not appreciate me, they do not pay me enough, workplace morale sucks, this company is going no where, and I’ll be happy when I find another job.
We have a built-in natural resistance steering us toward these thoughts and opinions. Our culture has taught us to over identifying who we are based on the work we do. We in turn base our general happiness on whether or not we enjoy the work we do.
Are you attached to who society wants you to be or are you living your life?
There is an interesting paradox that develops when you shift the conversation from work life to personal life. People fall into two camps, they are either as miserable at home as they are in the office or they claim to be completely happy in their personal life. Either way, I think they are disillusioned and not really aware of how the toxicity of their 9-5 work life is crushing their personal happiness.
Think I am wrong….maybe you are disillusioned yourself.
I promise you this is not a permanent condition unless you want it to be. We have choices we can make. We can choose to continue living this charade or we can called it what it is and take action to make the changes that lead towards the happiness we desire.
My journey is not dissimilar to the journey many are living. I used to think I was completely different at work than I was in my personal life. I live in disillusionment. I live in sadness. I longed to be happy.
I drifted along from task to task, boss to boss, job to job searching for meaning and happiness in my work life. I adhered to their rules (most of the time). I aligned my actions with their agenda. I lived by their expectations. I took my happiness from their happiness. I rationalized my compromising behavior. I told myself financial security was more important than the work I did. I gave away what was most important to me….I gave away ME!!!!!!
What message did I send to the people I loved at home when I was unhappy and continued to pour my energy and commitment into meaningless work? Working in that environment did not bring me joy and showing up as me in my life is what matters most to me.
This give away is not without some benefit to me. Being a life long learner, this type of learning experiences is exactly what I am looking for. They lay the foundation for even greater learning. I am a few years removed from this life stage and I continue to build on these lessons.
Our experience of happiness and meaning in life is influenced by who we are –as much as what we are doing. We have two paths to change. We either change the activity we are doing or we change ourselves.
Are you ready to raise the curtain to your true self?
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