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

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...

An important note to women about men and attraction

I was raised by my mom, grandma, and two older sisters. Growing up, never did I ever take any interest in the girls at school who tended toward exposing more skin. I always treated them as I would my female family members -- with the utmost courtesy and respect. And anytime I suspected that a male friend or acquaintance of mine adopted a hump-and-dump attitude toward women, I nixed them from my life. I held men who treated women as objects in very low regard, and still do to this day. If women feel empowered to show off their bodies because they love and work hard on their physique, more power to them. In other words, if they're doing it to please THEMSELVES and no one else, good for them. However, those who do it specifically to curry men's favor are making a big mistake. It sends the wrong signals and actually makes it less likely that a man will want to stick around for a committed relationship (if that's what you want as anyway). Granted, if you're not lookin...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog