The Joy of Meaningful Work
The search for meaning in life and in work has been a very
powerful, enduring theme in every culture. Many of us have
reflected on our work and the meaning it has in our lives.
Developing a rewarding career is closely linked to enjoying a
more meaningful life. A poll taken by the Gallup Organization in
2001 indicated that less than 30 percent of people are fully
engaged at work. Until recently, a job was simply a way to earn
a living. Many people have come to regard work as a necessary
evil, something they must do in order to pay for all their needs
and wants. But today, our need for personal job satisfaction and
for striking an appropriate career/life balance has taken on
greater importance. There has been a movement worldwide to view
work as a means to fulfillment rather than just a chore.
Organizations are recognizing the need to offer their employees
not only financial incentives, but also ways to find meaning and
purpose in their jobs. There is a renewed interest in finding
meaning in work and in life, and a yearning to be involved in
something greater than ourselves. Most of us spend a lot of
valuable time working. We spend more time at work than we do
with our families, rejuvenating ourselves, in nature, or in our
places of worship. Yet, most of us are just too busy to pursue
meaning. We are on automatic pilot through most of our busy
workdays. Work is no longer providing a sense of personal
significance for most people. This failure to actively engage in
our work keeps us from finding meaning, and leads to increasing
feelings of dissatisfaction and a loss of purpose. Career and
achievement are one of the major sources of meaning in anyone's
life. If your work doesn't feed your spirit, you may be feeling
tired, drained, and depleted by the end of the day. That's a
good indication that you're in the wrong job. Finding fulfilling
work is challenging but very rewarding. You don't have to
continue doing work you don't enjoy just because it