Whether we admit it or not, we are all looking for meaning in our lives, and in our work in particular. Lately there has been a resurgence of the search for meaning in what we do. This is a reaction to the increasingly busy lifestyles we lead, and the avalanche of options that become available to us. So much to want to be, do, have. So when we look properly at our work life, we can find that the ratio meaning vs. utility is skewed towards the latter. We are caught up on the ‘must work to earn money‘ train, hoping to find meaning at a station ahead.
There are many reasons why meaning is escaping our work lives like sand through our fingers. Firstly, all the technologies available make us gradually more masters of processes, rather than doers of the ground work that matters. We set up, manage and track. Meanwhile creativity and human interaction are reduced. So we feel less fulfilled by what we do, as we yearn for more creative work and fruitful collaborations.
More and more I am also observing a sense of routine in businesses. Every year, similar business plans roll in and out, with results compared year on year. It is easier, and more balanced in a world where staff come & go. So you might be sitting at your job, seeing repetitive tasks year on year. Despite the learning of what works and what doesn’t, management are more comfortable doing what they know and is safe. This destroys our sense of meaning overtime, as we are not re-creating anymore. And this leaves us feel like we add little value in the wheel of things.
Meaning can also diminish when we attached it to something specific, that we have reached or outgrown overtime. Often in the first stage of our career, we focus on learning and growing our skills. That becomes our essential meaning at work. We want to move up, grow our salary and get more responsibilities. Then in our thirties when we are ‘there’, we start wondering where the (next) meaning is. So meaning is just an ever evolving substance, that changes form over time with us. It’s what we attach to it that changes.
And let’s face it, we all at some point in our lives if not every day, need to earn a living. The cost of living is rising everywhere: from bills to childcare costs, upgrading our homes, and taking a much-needed holiday. We might be a single parent or having elderly relatives to take care of. So working is often not a choice aligned with meaning, rather just a mean to an end.
So how to get some meaning back into what you do? How do you see beyond the material reality, the hours that go with that, the pressure and the long lists? Well, start with picking the right company for you, if that is an option. Get into a business that aligns with a cause, a service or a product that you care about. It’s much easier this way around, rather than trying to inject meaning in a workplace that leaves you unmoved or disheartened.
We don’t all have the luxury of changing jobs right now, so what you can also do is folding your interests into your job description. I have written about this in a post here. When you find a way to do a bit of what interests you on a daily or weekly basis, you build enough meaning in the bank. Similarly, if you have a day job mainly for financial reasons, you can always do something you care about on the side. You can adjust your hours to squeeze in a few hours to dedicate to a grander mission. For instance start early, leave early and spend one hour at home doing something special to you. Or use your lunch break for something that fills your cup. Social media is very rarely meaningful, sorry to break it to you…
All that said, you might be sitting in a place where you have no idea about what really gives you meaning. Don’t worry, many people are in the same boat as you. It usually does not show up overnight, but it is a worthy discovery process about yourself. Start thinking about what our core values are. Look at your passions from a young age. Think about situations where you feel a special kind of energy, that has nothing to do with how tired or busy you are. Things you love talking about. These are all pointers to what creates meaning for you. Take your time to list those, and try joining the dots. What can you make with that? Can you see a job in there?
So my message is very simple: when you find your work life has little or no meaning, there is always a way to change that. Note I didn’t say quit. Change does not have to be all or nothing. You can make room where you are for a little bubble of meaning just for you. If you deny yourself your dose of meaning, it will likely impact your performance. Which in turns impact your well-being and satisfaction levels. It does not have to be the ultimate job, like most web articles make you believe. I just needs to be a job where you feel you are doing something for you at some point during your day. What does it look like for you?
