Comments on: A question for ya

By: Teren

Teren — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:27:12 +0000

i agree with those that say happiness and meaning at work is inter-dependent. When you’re happy, you tend to find more meaning in whatever you do. It could be anything. If you’re happy, you could find meaning working at anything you want. Yet work that has meaning to you will undoubtedly bring you more joy. It all comes from one’s state of mind and perspective. Some people find meaningful work by helping to conserve our environment while others find work meaningful when they are sewing or playing music. It all comes down to one’s perspective at trying to be the best they can be at whatever they are do. Every job has a meaning and it’s our job to find that out.

By: Jacob Saaby Nielsen

Jacob Saaby Nielsen — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:31:52 +0000

To me, it’s about my work meaning something. That it makes a difference to someone, and has value.

From that, happiness is derived.

To me, it’s that simple :)

By: Swetha

Swetha — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:43:07 +0000

You are happy when are doing a meaningful work!!

There is some introspection needed if you are not happy when doing a meaningful work!!

By: Ty Touchard

Ty Touchard — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:26:12 +0000

“Do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life” so the saying goes. Happiness is an entirely different subject. I don’t have much more to add to the excellent comments above. Great blog topic! Thanks.

By: Linda Horne

Linda Horne — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:00:09 +0000

Advertising is not about “Making people buy more”, it is about getting the word out that what people want and need is available. There are many times when people don’t KNOW they want or need it until they see it.
A job as a checker for a supermarket is not particularly glamorous, it is not particularly “meaningful” in the long run. I can easily be replaced. What does make my job meaningful is the fact that I interact with people and make sure that what they want and need is found for them. I am their last chance before they walk out the door to get “it” whatever “it” may be. My most important question is always “Did you find what you want?”
I occasionally get “I don’t know what I want!” This is my opportunity to look at what they ARE buying and then offer suggestions. It makes me happy to provide something that they either couldn’t find, were too embarrassed to ask for, or didn’t know they were looking for. Then if we don’t have what they want, there is always the suggestion card to fill out to request the item.
It’s our responsibility to decide whether or not to be happy. We don’t become happy just because our jobs are good or exciting. We find meaning in our jobs and then we become happy with the job and our position in it.

By: Alexander

Alexander — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:04:42 +0000

Thanks for all the great comments, everyone. I’m learning a lot from your thoughts.

I’ll try to post a recap tomorrow and add my own views.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:13:59 +0000

How could a non-meaningful work ever make me happy? The work has to make a positive sense at least in my personal opinion to make me happy!

By: Anja

Anja — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:05:07 +0000

I think both are related and completely separate – which ever way we chose to see it. And yes, it’s a circle (or a chicken & egg situation :))

The bottom line for me is: meaning makes us happy. We all want to have our lives mean something – we want to know that we matter. We create meaning by making a difference to other people, in whatever small or big way. And the more happy we are, the more likely and able we are to do meaningful things (and the more depressed we are, the more we withdraw and concentrate only on ourselves).

Some people have jobs or businesses that are meaningful to them – for example by creating fantastic advertising spots for people to enjoy (and to buy products that will “make them happy” however shortlived that happiness might be) or by maintaining servers to allow millions of other people to do uninterrupted meaningful work on their computers.

And some people might see their jobs only as a means to an end – a way to create an income so they can afford to do meaningful things after work – be it volunteering for charity or playing in a band and entertaining other people.

By: Bay

Bay — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:37:48 +0000

A very interesting question, with some very thoughtful answers.

For me the best answer comes from Kahlil Gibran: “Work is love made manifest.” Like most simple statements there is enormous depth to this statement and each person will have their own interpretation of it. But for me it points to the need for a focus outside of ourselves if we are to achieve anything, for work is ultimately a result and therefore, by definition, an achievement.

The search for happiness for its own sake is a selfish motive that is ultimately likely to be doomed in failure, for happiness comes from sharing. Happiness is a sense of joy that is the consequence of “making a difference” or a good deed, or a shared experience, etc. The things is that joy is innate; it is part of our being, and we lose that joy when we act contrary to what we believe in or become too wrapped up in our own situation. Work is such a major part of our lives that we have to find a way to channel our efforts so that we do not sabotage our joy and thus erode our happiness.

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:43:12 +0000

Happiness creates meaningful work while meaningful work generates more happiness. They don’t stand independent from each other- like yin and yang.