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by Claire Colvin
Every day we hear about people making radical career changes. The opportunities exist, but will a career change make you any happier? Maybe the question to start with isn't "How can I get the job I'll love?" but "How can I love the job I have?" Before you start sending out resumes, consider the following four ways you might find fulfillment in your present job.
1. Realize that your job does not define you, but how you do it does. There's a lot to be said for attitude. Any job can be done well, done with compassion, done with care. Your attitude at work and the way you treat people--even your mood--do not go unnoticed. They have a profound influence on the people you work with. There are times when you can't control your situation, but you can always choose how you live in it.
2. Stop focusing on the money. Regardless of what you earn, there will always be much more you could do if you had the money. Try taking tracking every penny you spend in a week. Seeing where your money is really going can help you to refocus your spending towards the things you really want. Getting paid is only one small part of what you do; your work has to be more than just a paycheck to be fulfilling.
3. Find the significance in what you do. This may require you to think big, but it can be done. Take some time to really think about what you do. Do you provide an essential service? Do you get to see the finished product? Do you give direction that gets things done? Then ask yourself, "how is this job done differently because I am doing it?" Perspective plays a huge role in personal satisfaction and sense of well-being. Try to remember why you took the job in the first place.
4. Dare to ask yourself if it's worth it. If you can't find the part of your job that you like, or if you can see yourself turning into the person you said you would never be, consider the reasons. Are there changes you can make? Do you need to be doing a different position within the same company? Are additional responsibilities taking you away from the work you were hired to do? Maybe all that's needed is some refocusing. Learn to say "no." As much as you can, choose the things you spend your time on. Don't attend events or meetings only because everyone expects it.
Asking yourself why you do your job doesn't mean you're dissatisfied, just self-aware. This awareness can lead to greater job satisfaction, increased sense of well-being and a little more control over what you do, rather than just "going along for the ride." For some, it may be time for a change--if so, don't be afraid of it. Change isn't necessarily bad; it's just different. But start first with a good look at where you are. You may just find you've got a great view.
Claire Colvin is the editor of Women Today Magazine. She has a B.A. in English from Trinity Western University and thinks people should go barefoot more often.
