When we talk about personal meaning in terms of our career, people often think it’s about turning your passion or favorite hobby into a job. However, personal meaning can mean different things to different people. Your personal meaning doesn’t necessarily have to come from a job that you love every minute of. Instead, think of it as something you get as a reward for a job well done.
It’s Not Just About Dream Jobs
People have generally defined personal meaning as a feeling you get from choosing a job that makes you feel something in your heart. It is often thought of as something that makes you who you are. However, it doesn’t only come from what you’ve always thought of as your “dream job.†For some, personal meaning comes from the rewards they get from their job. It’s about appreciating the difference you make in your world or someone else’s. You don’t have to save peoples’ lives to make a difference.
How to Find Your Own Meaning
Some people find joy in helping others. Whether it be a colleague, a customer, or a group
of people they don’t even know. On the other hand, you may find value in helping your company run like a well-oiled machine. Whatever your job is, you are an important part of a big picture. Sometimes we forget how much we are worth and start to think it wouldn’t make a difference if we were there or not. This is not true! The way the economy is, if there wasn’t a need for your job position, you wouldn’t have a job!
It May Not Come Directly From Your Job
Many people find joy in being the provider in their families. Whether you are supporting your partner, or a family of eight, you are a vital part of your household. Just like at your job, your family is another group in which everybody has an important role to play. After a hard day’s work, remember that your career plays a role in the world. Whether it’s in your family at home or your family at work, you are always making a difference in someone’s world!
About the Author
Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook (http://www.JobSearchHandbook.com). As editor of the HireSites.com weekly newsletter on job searching, Scott has written many articles on the subject. He wrote the Job Search Handbook to provide job seekers with a complete yet easy to use guide to finding a job effectively.
