Welcome to the seventeenth blog post in the series “Monthly Mindset Shift”! As the name indicates, this series has one new post per month and will continue for the next several months. Each post in the series details a positive mindset shift we can make surrounding a feeling or experience that generally has a negative connotation. (Spoiler alert: For this post, that experience is feeling negatively about work!) These shifts aren’t designed to erase all of our difficult/unwanted emotions around the topic at hand. Rather, they simply serve to improve our general outlook on the matter, which can, in turn, improve our actions and our outcomes. They’re all the more proof that a healthier, more constructive mindset can change the game!
No matter what you do for work, there may be times when you wonder, “what’s the point?”. You may feel like your tasks are repetitive, time-consuming, or flat-out unnecessary. As per my post Monthly Mindset Shift: Finding Purpose Amid Career Uncertainty, you may even feel that your work is disconnected from your purpose. All of these feelings are normal and valid. At the same time, since the average person has to work to support themself, we may as well make the most of it, right?
The mindset shift…
The reality is, even if your job doesn’t always feel the most purposeful, you’re still contributing more than you think. You weren’t just dropped into this position; you were chosen by your boss. They see something in you, enough so that they chose YOU to work for them.
That’s not to say that even if you hate your job, you should stay indefinitely. If you hate your job, make every effort you can to get yourself out and into a better situation! Heck, even if you don’t hate it, but you want something different, again, make that effort accordingly. It’s just to say that, as per the post referenced above, your work/career doesn’t need to equate to your greatest purpose. Sure, it can certainly be one of many outlets for your purpose to be fulfilled through, but it doesn’t need to be the main one.
In and of itself, the fact that your boss hired you shows that your role at work has a purpose. It may not feel like your highest calling, and it may not be a place you stay long-term. However, for the time you’re there, you can make it your mission to extract as much value from it as possible. You’re there for a reason—likely multiple reasons. Learn all that you can, even about the basics. Put your best foot forward, 1) to show yourself you can, and 2) to better the lives/experiences of those involved (co-workers, boss, clients, customers, etc.). Challenge yourself, and watch yourself rise to the occasion. If nothing else, conquering these challenges will build your confidence. You’ll feel more well-equipped to tackle any challenges you desire, including those most connected to your purpose.
Another consideration…
Just like any other facet of life, how about romanticizing your job? Whether it’s taking the scenic commute, getting coffee from a cute café in the building, getting yourself colorful office supplies, wearing nice clothes to work that make you look and feel better, going out with coworkers on a Friday night, or anything in between, there are likely opportunities for romanticization all around you. It doesn’t have to be your life’s mission or even your end career destination in order to be meaningful in its own way. It’s a chapter in your story, and for that, it deserves some light and life sprinkled into it! For more tips on romanticization, check out my post 8 Ways to Romanticize Your Life.
The bottom line…
At times, work can be boring, tedious, frustrating, etc. However, it can also be liberating, empowering, confidence-boosting, and rewarding. You spend a large amount of time at your job, but it’s not your life. It’s your way of making money, and it can be other things for you too, whether it’s your calling or not. No matter how short- or long-term it is, it can introduce you to new connections and new versions of success.
Ultimately, only you can define what work means to you. If you look closely enough, though, you can find lessons and growth you’d never expected.