Hey, there change seekers! I hope this message finds you happy today!
According to best-selling author and award-winning journalist Steven Kotler’s research, lack of meaningful work is one of the 6 major leading reasons leading to depression.
This message doesn’t focus on depression as much as it focuses on what you can turn your energy towards when you might be feeling depressed, going through a different variation of a low point, possibly feeling stuck, feeling down, or as if little or nothing is getting accomplished.
At one point or another, we all can find ourselves feeling a lack of movement, momentum, or growth.
When you are in this place, one great way to start reclaiming control and momentum is by checking in with yourself and seeing if the work you are doing is something YOU are actually inspired by and curious about.
With that, do you currently feel you have the freedom to pursue what you want?
Does it align with your passion or your purpose?
If you are not sure, refer to the above “getting curious” step and work on finding a way to express your creativity.
When we have meaningful projects, objectives, and mastery we are pursuing, so much happiness comes from that happening.
Working towards something that is meaningful to you and in the direction of your goals and your desires gives you that happy focus that is significant to you and in turn makes you feel more significant.
I know, rocket science, right!? But simple is easily forgotten with how much we feel we have to do or could be doing, the simple things can be overlooked at times and probably shouldn't be.
So give it a try. Having that 'something' to work towards, something to look forward to… ahhhh, these things can boost your energy, mood, and more.
If realizing what is meaningful to you is a difficult concept, it might be worth checking in on how you currently identify with your capabilities and who you are or see yourself as.
Oftentimes in life, we take on a particular role so long that our entire identity can be consumed and associated with that one role. This might seem like a good thing to some, and in some cases it is, but it can be troublesome to others, especially in times of transition.
Below are three different examples of transition periods in life that can be found to be particularly trying especially when one’s identity is engrained in the previous person before the transition.
This can be a bigger problem than one might realize, even to the extent that many can find themselves in a funk or even straight-up depressed.
Retirees:
Retirees can often struggle through the process of transitioning to life outside the workplace. It is understandable after they had spent their lives identifying as this title or that, day in and day out of a deep-rooted routine of their work cycle. They may have achieved much success and been creative throughout life, but then such a huge part of the picture is gone and the struggle is real to fill that space and complete the picture….. with.. with what? As mentioned above, remain curious, take up old hobbies you enjoyed, reach out to friends or community members, travel, try something new, read, volunteer, exercise more, bake, cook. I could make a list that runs miles long, but it really doesn’t help until you take time to reflect yourself, get curious, think about what you have always wanted to spend more time on, and get creative in taking actions to try something out that fits for you. If that doesn't end up serving you, then try something else, or reach out and let’s walk through your particular situation and get some guidance to clarity. #getcurious
Empty Nesters:
It is quite common for many parents when the kids leave home, mom and dad are left wondering… now what? So much of your parent identity changes instantly. You automatically have less responsibility, as well as little say in how your child’s life will go from then on. That is a lot of change at one time. And it is also possible that having worn the parent-hat for so long, it is hard not to identify with that on a daily basis, at least to the extent it was before.
Now it is time to live for you, even if you don’t know who exactly you are anymore.
To you, I suggest the same, get excited about the recreating and get creative. That doesn’t mean flip a switch and forget you are in a moment of transition. There is usually a messy middle somewhere in between the goodbye and the hello to a new beginning. Embrace the process, get reflective, and take up a new project, whether solo or in community with others. #getcurious #getcreative
Unhappy with your work:
You might be in a job and you've worked really hard to achieve the success that you have experienced so far, but you are surprised that you've been feeling unfulfilled or wondering if there is something better that you should be doing. It might be the job itself, or it might be that something needs shifting within the job, or within your own perspective that could make the difference.
To that I suggest, taking a step back, give yourself some time to evaluate and see if there are any shifts that could be made within the company or within your approach to the daily tasks you manage.
Is there a new and/or creative approach that you could be inspired to bring some more of your imagination to the work you do?
Is there more you would like to go after, a different position, whether a lateral or vertical move? Is there less of something you might want to do?
Or perhaps there is something inventive or completely different that could be created.
If there is no room for creativity, growth, or personal perspectives and you are feeling the drain affect you physically, then maybe, at that point, it is time to reconsider what career path you are in.
Of course, to come to that point, it can be another layer of scary and uncertainty, especially when you have been in a job for some time and can’t imagine what you might do if you were not doing “that thing”.
Still, I hope it would also feel exciting because you realize that you do deserve to have a profession you enjoy and preferably love.
Can you imagine it? If you can, it is possible. If you are not sure about where to start, reach out and let’s talk. #getcurious
Oh, finding that happy place…
Freud is known for defining happiness as “Work and Love”.
We all want to be happy. And we are creative beings by nature. Given that, doesn’t it seem good practice to get to work being creative and doing the things that you love?
As previously mentioned, so much happiness comes from the happening… and if you enjoy what you are doing, logic suggests as Freund professed.
So, get out there change seeker, and challenge yourself to make progress happen.
***Let me know in the comments where you want to start.***
Declare and you are so much closer to getting there!
I would love to hear what you are working on or towards.
If you are not sure, reach out and I would love to help you transition through change.
You do not have to get through it alone.
Wishing you happiness and growth.
