For most of us, we spend a huge proportion of our waking lives working. Unless you're independently wealthy, this can't be helped. But the day has long since past when we have to view our work as a necessary evil. If you're committed to it, you really can find work that you enjoy, that fulfills you and that eliminates the dreaded Monday Blues forever.
But how do you find that work? Well, the first thing to do is look at what you already enjoy doing outside of work. Is there a way for you to turn a hobby into a living? Can you envisage yourself doing that? Does the idea excite you?
Some other questions to ask yourself: If you were independently wealthy but chose to work anyway, what would you choose to do? If you could wave a magic wand and be guaranteed success, what would you do? Reflecting on these questions can help spark some ideas to consider.
However, when exploring new career directions you'll also need to explore some deeper questions if you're going to find job satisfaction that will last past the novelty of the new. If you're not honouring your personal values in your day to day work, you will have a gnawing sense of dissatisfaction, eventhough you may not be able to pinpoint the reason for it.
Sometimes, it is not the job that is wrong for you, but the environment, people and culture in the place where you're doing it. When you're clear on what your values are you can decide if the changes you need are more environmental or if a total career change might indeed be required.
Maybe the problem is that you don't feel fulfilled. You might be thinking you'd like to make a meaningful contribution, but again you can't clarify in your mind exactly what kind of contribution that needs to be. We each have a purpose in life, though somehow only a lucky few of us have always known what that is. Some of us stumble upon it and more of us find it through a deliberate process of self-discovery. Sadly, some never do discover it and meander through life rather than truly living it.
As I write this, I am actually also watching "No Going Back" on TV. It's following the life of a couple who gave up their life in London to run a guest-house with adventure activities in France. Amy is on her knees cleaning a toilet in one of the guest bathrooms. It's non-stop cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning all day and it's a million miles from the high- flying career and lifestyle to match that's she's given up. And she says: "you know what, I'd still rather be doing this than my old job".
Everybody has different values and a different purpose in life, and so what they get out of what they do is unique, as is what they give. Amy's purpose is to look after people and make them happy and so cleaning toilets for her is fulfilling, whereas I'm sure it would be a million miles from fulfilling for many others. It all depends on your perspective and how it all fits into the overall picture.
Figuring out what it is that will give that joy can be tricky, and when you do discover it, it's only the first step. But the journey of moving towards it can be every bit as rewarding as arriving there.
