Some roots of great joy at work

You are not sure what to do with your life? You have some doubts about your career (options)? You feel stuck in a job and are frustrated?

The questions mentioned above only come to your mind once your basic needs are met. They are what I call luxury questions. This means that these sorts of questions only come to your mind, if you have nothing more basic to worry about. If you are starving, if you need to earn money to feed your family, or if you live in daily fear: then your basic needs are not met and you would probably accept more or less any job available.

Once you do not struggle with such basic needs, you change to a more sophisticated lifestyle. Your worries change and so do your problems. And the more upscaling and luxury you have in your daily life, the more often you wonder whether your career is the right one for you, whether you should be doing something else, or whether you might be better off changing your employer.

Now, life is of course complex and every human being thinks differently, but still: there is one common rule which is applicable in general and which helps many people.

There more time you spend helping someone else, the more meaning you will experience in your own life, and the more general satisfaction you will feel.

Shifting your focus from yourself, your ego, and your own problems to what you can do for another individual or group of people, will change your whole way of thinking and living.

Maybe you will now think that you are not working in a nursing profession, but I am convinced that it is a question of mindset and that this rule applies to any profession. You have the choice to focus on what matters for others (individuals, colleagues, clients, even society in general, animals, or nature) and choose a serving mindset. If you choose to serve others, you will immediately experience fulfillment and meaning.

Watch out how you can contribute and give. With that focus you will create long-lasting strength and satisfaction for yourself and — in parallel — boost your career and success.