Being stuck in a job that feels meaningless quickly leads to despondency, demotivation, and dissatisfaction. In contrast, when you feel your role has meaning, you’re inspired and energized to use your position to do good.
While all jobs have meaning in some way or another, finding a role that has meaning for you can lead to a happy and fulfilling career. If you’re ready to reset your life and embrace new challenges, ask yourself these five questions:
What do you enjoy?
First and foremost, what drives you to get out of bed each day, and what makes you excited to engage with the world? If your job involves something you’re passionate about, it can offer a level of satisfaction that’s unmatched. Whether you’re committed to saving the environment, delivering better service, or supporting the community, for example, a role that enables you to achieve these goals will always be meaningful.
Do you want to help people?
For many people, a meaningful job is one that enables them to help people. If this applies to you, you could become a healthcare professional, start an estate sale business, or even offer independent financial advice. All of these roles enable you to help people at difficult times in their lives or with important aspects of their life. By matching your desire to help people with your skills and qualifications, you can ensure that your future career has meaning.
What do you dream of doing?
It’s easy to find reasons why you can’t do your dream job or live your dream lifestyle but put these on hold for a second and allow yourself to imagine what you’d do if failure wasn’t possible. While there may be practical reasons why you can’t develop your dream job or business right now, you will get an insight into what industries and roles represent your ultimate career aspirations.
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How do you wish the world was different?
Some of the best businesses and professionals are those who solve problems. From making a daily chore more convenient to providing innovative solutions to global issues, there are numerous ways you can use your skills to make an impact. Identify the things you’d change if you were able to, and then set about doing it!
What style of work do you enjoy?
Just because a role is meaningful, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you. Being a surgeon is certainly meaningful, but it probably isn’t the right choice if you’re squeamish, for example! By thinking about the working environments you enjoy and the style of working that motivates you, you can begin to explore which roles offer genuine meaning and fulfillment.
Find Your Vocation
Millions of people grow up without a clear idea of what they want to do when they’re older. In fact, many people work for years until they figure out what they really want to do. No matter what your age or professional experience, it’s never too late to unleash your true potential and take on a role that’s meaningful to you.