“The idea that work might be fulfilling rather than just painfully necessary is a strikingly recent invention. Nowadays, in the prosperous world, we don’t only expect to obtain money through labor, we also, to a greater or lesser extent, expect to find meaning and satisfaction.  It’s a big ask and explains why so many of us have career crises…”

Finding Fulfilling Work

It’s not easy to find a job that brings meaning into your daily life. While practicing mindfulness can help you find peace and compassion in whatever your current occupation happens to be, there’s a difference between looking for fulfillment with your present career and acknowledging that there may be a better match for your out there.

In this video, you’ll learn about how to find your ideal job. It’s no small task, to be sure. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Specifically, there are six things you’ll need to do if you want to find a career that’s fulfilling for you.

1. Acknowledge that confusion is normal

Before the Industrial Revolution, it’s estimated that there were about 2,000 different trades out there. Now, in the 21st century, there are more than 500,000. It’s easy to experience anxiety: so much choice can actually lead to a kind of decision paralysis, where no choice feels like the right one. Acknowledge your confusion, but don’t allow yourself to get stuck.

2. Know yourself

For most people, there’s not a clear “calling” out there. Understanding what job is right for you involves really knowing yourself, and becoming familiar with your deepest desires and motivations. This takes a lot of work. Forget about money: just a make a list of all of the things you’ve ever done that you enjoy. These can be tasks that have nothing to do with earning a living. Then, analyze this list philosophically: what do these tasks have in common? There’s a connection there if you dig deep enough.

3. Journal

Recognize upfront that this process may take a long time. You could spend more than a year trying to decide what you ought to do. Don’t feel guilty about this: choosing a career is a huge decision. Talk about it a lot. Think about it regularly. Spent entire weekends researching.

4. Try things

You probably won’t decide on a career purely by abstraction. Don’t be afraid to get out there and try things. You don’t have to quit your job: try something on the side, or interview someone who already has a certain job to learn more about it.

5. Think about why people are unhappy

Remember that most business ideas involve solving a problem that people are regularly faced with. If you’ve thought of a task that you’d enjoy performing as a service, think about whether or not the task can be marketed in such a way as to solve a problem that people regularly experience.

6. Be confident

Confidence is key. Remember: people aren’t somehow successful by nature. You can be just as successful as anyone else if you set your mind to it.