How to love what you do

by Jen (January 17, 2008)

Last week, GetRichSlowly posted about the importance (?) of loving what you do, and I responded with what to do if you can’t find a job you love. GRS came back with a great post full of links to posts on loving your job, and then mentioned that one of the secrets to becoming a self-made millionaire is:

Passion pays off. Love what you do.

And a lightbulb went off for me. You really can love what you do, even if what you do isn’t what you love. Like Crosby, Stills and Nash sing: “If you cant be with the one you love, honey /Love the one you’re with.”

The first step, in my experience, is to find a company or group of co-workers you love working with. Like I said in my previous post, it can make even a dead-end retail job fun.

The second step is to take pride in what you do. Feel good about how you do your work, even if you think the work itself is stupid and pointless. This can really be a challenge in some jobs, and I think the fear that I’d get “stuck” in some stupid job used to make me want to hate every second of my “day jobs.” But frustration burns you out, while feeling good about yourself is energizing.

Keeping things in perspective is important. Whatever you don’t love about your job - it’s just a job. It shouldn’t be consuming you. If it is, ask yourself why? Are you hanging out with co-workers who love to complain? Their feelings can be contagious. Do you have a boss who lives to undermine your confidence? Either get cozy with his boss (insurance, dude) or find a job where you’re not at the mercy of a demented lunatic. Are you generally not happy with your life? Here’s what I’d go back in time and tell my miserable 20 year old self, if I could, and if I thought for one second she’d listen, lol: those people who seem so happy? Full of it. No one in full possession of their faculties is thrilled with their life, because life is full of chores and annoyances and losses. Even people who have “people” to take care of that stuff for them end up unhappy because they’ve never been challenged enough to find out what they’re made of. So don’t worry - be unhappy! As long as you keep trying, eventually you will find contentment, which is the state of being happy despite life’s crap.

Stay healthy! It’s all too easy to not get enough exercise or sleep or fresh healthy foods, especially when you’re in an office job. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll tend toward feelings of depression, which a not-so-thrilling job can exacerbate. Stay focused on your life outside work, and take care of yourself.

Any other suggestions?

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