Men either love or hate work. Sometimes both at the same time.
Men often need to work, but at the same time loathe it.
What should be the relationship between men and work?
If you are perfectly happy with your job, and the balance in your life at the moment – this article is not for you. Read something else.
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Work fills almost half of every man’s waking lifetime. It is the one constant of all mankind’s activities. Yet few people are truly satisfied with their jobs and know where work should fit with the rest of their life.
Personal conflicts, overwork, overambition, financial pressure, fear of unemployment, boredom, lack of opportunity, are among the issues men raise about work on a regular basis.
Some consider jumping to another career or firm to work with, believing this will solve the issues. In some cases, it might, however generally, this is only a short-term solution as the problems often follow people. This is because deep down, we are still the same person, just in a different setting.
Fulfillment in the workplace comes from knowing your purpose for work and doing your best work possible, both in attitude and action.
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Men need to establish priorities in their lives, and find a balance. In my life, my priorities include my God, wife, family, workplace, community service, dreams, and me time. With so many priorities, I need to have a balance, so that life remains functional.
There have been times when work has been the major priority in my life. When the next promotion or pay rise was all consuming. I realized though that this did not make me happy. There were other things in life that brought me happiness, and it became more important to have balance in my life. What is it in your life that makes you happy, really happy?
Happiness leads to fulfillment in achieving our purpose. Thus we need to know our purpose, in order to be happy.
This raises the question, of what is the purpose of your work? This is not what the job is, but my attitude or purpose for doing the job. Is it to earn enough dollars to pay the bills? Is it to serve others? It is to promote oneself to make me feel important?
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Fulfillment in the workplace comes from knowing your purpose for work and doing your best work possible, both in attitude and action.
It may be that you need to you need to invest in some professional development to improve or change jobs if you believe that this will bring realignment with your priorities.
It is more likely that you will need to change your own attitudes to work. How do you relate to your employers, bosses, peers and clients?
How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself doing job of importance? Even collecting the rubbish has its own important role to play in society. The job does not make less of you, but your attitude to the job may.
Once I understood the purpose of work for me, it gave me reason to give 100% to it. This in balance with my other priorities, allows me to have a fulfilling life.
Change your attitude through identifying your perspective and how you are seen by others. This occurs through self-examination and having close trusted people provide you honest evaluation and feedback, on your strengths and weaknesses.
Through seeing yourself through the eyes of others, through the eyes of family, friends, work colleagues and superiors, we are able to make adjustments.
With a vision of what your life can be, an identified purpose and direction, and the knowledge of what needs to change in your life, you can chart the next step in your life, and bring back the happiness in your life.
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