Skip to main content

Stay focused on what you LOVE

Want to know one reason so many of us are unhappy with our lives?

You guessed it: our jobs.

Want to know why our jobs make us this way? 

Because we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about how miserable they are. 

Unfortunately, far too many of us fail to:
  • Break out of these negative thoughts and redirect our attention towards things that actually make us happy
  • Cultivate hobbies outside of work 
Instead, we think of our jobs as the be-all and end-all of our existence. We count on work to fulfill us in ways that are unrealistic. 

Ideally, we all want jobs that pay well, involve working with great co-workers, and keep us mentally stimulated. 

While such jobs certainly exist, we'll always take issue with some aspect of our jobs. As I've said before, no job is perfect. 

Relying upon your job to fulfill you is a recipe for disaster. 

As we well know, things at work can change in the blink of an eye. You might get laid off. The great boss you have today can leave or be replaced, and his successor can make your life a living hell. A promotion or reshuffling of priorities can leave you with less-than-glamorous work -- or more of it than you can handle.  

While I think it's important to like our jobs, we should never regard it as a panacea for boredom, loneliness, or anything that may be lacking in our lives.

That's why hobbies and interests outside of work matter a great deal. I've come to accept that I'll never get enough mental stimulation from any corporate job. That's why I'm considering getting a master's degree. Even if I'm not in school, I keep busy with books and blogging.

Many of us put tremendous pressure on ourselves to find the perfect job, and spend all day lamenting the fact that it seems to elude us.

This is no way to live. Instead, we ought to focus mentally on things we love -- mountain climbing, cooking, pets, travel. Mull which countries you want to visit, what breed of dog you want to adopt, which new dish you want to cook next.

These are positive things we can look forward to -- ones that put us in a good mood and allow us to share our passions with others.

So, next time you find yourself grappling with negative thoughts about work, turn your attention to those things and activities that make you feel good and alive. Why give a job so much power over you?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...