The Joy of Meaningful Work

The Joy of Meaningful Work

By Leo Babauta

Not everyone| has the luxury(ˈləgZH(ə)-,ˈləkSH(ə)rē)| of doing meaningful work. I get that. I’m incredibly(inˈkredəblē) lucky| to have work that I find meaningful.

But| it is one of the most incredible things I’ve been able to create in my life. Purposeful(ˈpərpəsfəl) work. Work that feels like I’m doing something good in the world.

People in all kinds of fields| have found meaningful work — it’s usually when you’ve done some good in the lives of others. Teachers| who see a kid’s eyes light up| when they do a science experiment| or read a good story. Nurses(nərs)| who help someone| who is in pain(pān). Volunteers(ˌvälənˈtir)| who help with a project| that makes a community better. Writers| who inform| or delight(dəˈlīt)| or provoke(prəˈvōk). Mothers| who help babies grow into wonderful people. A bus driver| who keeps his students safe| so they can learn. Scientists| who are advancing(ədˈvans) human knowledge(ˈnäləj). Yoga(ˈyōgə) teachers| who bring a measure of inner peace to people’s mornings. A flower gardener(ˈgärdnər)| whose product will make people’s homes happier. A counselor(ˈkouns(ə)lər)| who helps someone deal with their grief(grēf) or anxiety( aNGˈzīədē). A software engineer| whose app empowers(emˈpou(-ə)r) creators(krēˈādər). An artist| whose work gives people a new way| of seeing the world. A personal trainer| who helps her clients get healthier(ˈhelTHē). A coach| who helps his clients make breakthroughs(ˈbrākˌTHro͞o) in their lives.

And| it’s my belief| that anyone| can find meaning in their work. Work in an office? Maybe it can feel meaningful| to serve your team| so that their work| gets done easier, or so that the project they’re doing| actually gets done. Maybe you help brighten(ˈbrītn) people’s day with your positivity(ˌpäzəˈtivədē)| or sense of humor(ˈ(h)yo͞omər). Maybe you delight your customers with your service. Work as a janitor(ˈjanədər)? Imagine not cleaning for a week| and think about how miserable(ˈmiz(ə)rəbəl)| people would be — your work makes their lives better, even if they don’t realize it. A feeling of meaning| can come even if the people benefitting| don’t realize what you’ve done. Just knowing you’ve made lives better| is a wonderful thing.

Meaning| is anything| that makes lives better — your own life included. If you are putting smiles on people’s faces, helping them find mindfulness, helping them make a living, making their jobs easier| or their headaches(ˈhedˌāk) smaller … you’re doing something meaningful.

Meaningful work| is all around us, and it is deeply satisfying(ˈsadəsˌfīiNG).

https://zenhabits.net/meaning/