Find meaning in what we do

When we daily do what seems meaningless to us; when we think that something threatens our position at work; when we do not have enough resources, energy to work efficiently, we feel powerless. Work loses its meaning for us, and we become very vulnerable.

Despite the difficult conditions in which many of us have to work, some still manage to find meaning in their work, while most do not. The question of meaning is a fundamental, clear answer to it that allows you to live in harmony with yourself and feel satisfaction with life at any time. That is why it is so important to understand what we are working for. For the work itself? Or rewards for it – monetary or symbolic? For connections with other people? To contribute to society? Careers?

Throughout life, this meaning changes in accordance with our system of priorities, values, ideas, motivations and needs. Working also means having free time to think. However, in many companies, in many enterprises today, circumstances do not just allow you to think, and therefore comprehend your role. With ever-increasingly vague tasks facing employees in a time of austerity, managers expect their subordinates to work exclusively in productivity mode. But what about the production of meaning? In this regard, those who work this way have to rely only on themselves.

First, develop personal effectiveness. That is, to do everything that we do at work with high quality, to see the connection between our efforts and the result. Even in a hostile environment, personal effectiveness gives us confidence that we can mobilize the necessary resources to deal with even the most difficult and unexpected situations. This attitude to work increases the level of subjective well-being and reduces stress.

The next step is to notice what causes positive emotions, find pleasure in what you do every day: not so much as a result of work, but in the process itself, in communication with colleagues and partners. Even if we are not currently creating anything out of the ordinary, our involvement in the work process allows us to find support in ourselves and turns work into a deep and enriching experience. In general, we are talking about the fact that in a situation of changing priorities, employers do not get too hung up on goals and indicators. Pleasure and motivation at work are not measured by Excel tables, but by behavior, state of mind and style of communication in the team.

At times like these, it’s important to allow yourself to listen to your intuition., to our feelings, to take into account what we usually (voluntarily or unconsciously) ignore, to make sure that the mind, body and heart live in harmony, to fully feel “here and now” – all this will help to act and make the right decisions. And in this sense, the pleasure of work will not be an end, but a means.

And finally, it is worth asking yourself a question about your intentions and actions. By trying to interpret our own actions, we will more easily find the meaning of the work. Doing something that makes sense means trying to understand what gives us energy and using that understanding to think and act more clearly. Because the experience acquires meaning only in the spiritual depths of the one who lives this experience.