How does the saying go?

“There’s a reason they call it work.“

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into thinking about work as a means to an end; necessary in order to support and provide for ourselves and the people we love.

But what if work were meaningful?

What if your work was an important part of your life beyond simply providing for yourself and your family?

Let’s think for a moment about some things that can make work meaningful and imagine what our lives would be like if they were part of our work experience.

A Sense of Purpose and Making a Difference

There’s nothing quite like the feeling that you’re doing the work you were meant to do and positively impacting the world. 

This can happen in many ways. 

For example, you might be directly saving lives or reducing suffering. 

Or, on the other hand, it may not be heroic or dramatic. Not everyone has that kind of opportunity. 

But you can make your workplace more positive, encouraging, and productive for everyone around you and know you are touching lives.

Using Our God-Given Talent and Ability

You are uniquely gifted in one way or another. 

But why? 

So that you can use those talents and skills to serve, create, and build in productive and beneficial ways. 

When we do this, we enjoy a sense of faithfulness and fulfillment.

Feeling Like We Are a Part of Something Worthwhile

You know, that sense of community and partnership we have with others when engaged together in an enterprise or project. 

This includes recognition for a job well done and acknowledgment of our contribution to the organization.

A Sense of Autonomy and Self-Determination

Space within the larger community where we work, in which we are allowed to make decisions and control our work and how we do it. 

This dramatically increases our sense of ownership and pride in our work.

Attractive Compensation and Benefits

In addition to providing a sense of security and satisfaction of providing for our families and loved ones, our compensation is a recognition of our value and contribution to an organization. 

At this point, it is important to remember, an organization does not pay you what you’re worth. It pays you what you are worth to the organization. 

When we are well paid, it is usually a reward for the significance of our contribution. 

It’s frustrating to contribute significantly, and it is not recognized, or there are inadequate resources to reward it appropriately.

Opportunities for Growth and Development

It’s gratifying to feel like you are developing professionally, honing your craft, and improving at what you do. 

There’s a great deal of satisfaction in taking the next step, not feeling stagnant, and knowing your ability to impact the success of an organization is increasing. 

Positive Work-Life Balance

I hate to reduce this to the hours worked per week, although that can be a significant factor. 

Overall, it’s much more about the sense that your work is in sync with the rest of your life.

Flexibility in your schedule, the opportunity to step away from your work to refresh and recharge, or the ability to work remotely; can contribute to our increased energy, focus, and, ultimately, our productivity as we bring our best selves to our work. 

It’s far easier to be fully present in your work when you know that your family and other parts of your life have had appropriate attention.

OK, I know what you are thinking. 

“All of this is too much to ask for.“

“It’s not realistic.“

Here’s the thing.

Generally, we don’t make progress unless we are aiming for something.

We all know there’s no perfect job and no perfect company.

But there’s a feeling when your work aligns with your sense of purpose—the feeling of being in tune with the universe.

So, in the end, the question is not, where can I find the perfect job?

The question is, … how can I take a step toward more meaningful work?