Until you understand how you really want to feel you are running in the dark.
Believe me it hurts.
When you know how you want to feel then you can work backwards to reach this goal.
I struggled with my work happiness for the longest time because I thought that no one listened to my ideas, which was partially true. But it was also my fault because I didn’t believe in my own ideas. I didn’t fight to make them a reality. I let other people dictate my day instead of going after my own happiness.
You have to look at what brings you the most happiness and fight for it.
Don’t back down because someone at work puts your idea down.
Don’t give up because there is too much red tape.
Don’t stop believing in your idea because other people are scared by it.
If you want to feel a certain way the only thing in your way is you.
Do you want to feel…?
- Excited
- Loved
- Challenged
- Rich
- Appreciated
- Smart
- Funny
- Relaxed
Whatever feelings you want from your work it’s up to you to make them happen.
*Image courtesy of jggbella
We need reassuring words like these.. When we go to work, we want to feel valued and inspired, but there are always circumstances that bog us down. It depends on us now how we handle and what our perspective is to these emotional obstacles
This sounds really great, I plan to read something at least once a day.
Thanks for this message! For some reason I thought you were abandoning the Work Happy Now project for something else (party planning, wasn't it?) but I am very glad to see your messages coming in again. Kind regards, MG
Hi Henry, Exactly. It's a challenge to learn from your situation and make the best of it, but if we don't we give into the fear and circumstances. We have so much more power than we think if we just allow ourselves to feel it.
Thanks Emily!
Hi Martha, I thought I might too, but with some help from some amazing friends I'm bringing back the love. I just can't stay away. I love the concept of work happiness too much.
Great points Karl!
What are your thoughts about taking risks to push your ideas?
Is it better to push forward with making your ideas a reality or to first get other key influencers at work on your side before push forward hard on it?
Also- some of the feelings you listed like "loved" and "relaxed" seem to be a bit more associated with my personal life instead of my work life. Are these feelings that you think we need to get both from work and our personal life or is getting it from one enough?
Thanks!
-Aaron
Hi Aaron,
We all need to be taking risks. The more a person sits back and waits for luck to come to them the longer they will have to wait. With that being said, they must be calculated risks. You need a good plan. That may mean bringing people on board for your idea or just slowly pushing your idea on to people until they see the value. The key is to know your own superpowers and how they fit in with the people around you.
I believe the emotions are a part of our lives where ever we are, whether it be at work or in our personal lives. The work culture needs to be more open to feelings in the workplace, especially since it drives so many of our decisions.
Love and relax should be a part of the workplace vernacular. For example I should love a good portion of what I do. I won't love all of it. I know that, but for example I love coaching clients and I love writing blog posts. I don't love coaching difficult clients and I don't love editing. They are just a part of my workday that allows me to do work that I love.
Relax should also be a part of our workplace. When we take time to relax we are more creative, less stressed and more productive. Everyone is different and that's a big reason why it's so hard to manage people. We can't decide how people work best. All we can do is focus on the results that people achieve. If they do great work, but love to chat with a co-worker for 20 minutes about a great restaurant nearby then that's ok.
I wrote way more than I expected to. You really brought up some great points. I should create a blog post out of these ideas that you spurred on.
Thanks for the great comment!
I would push a little bit and say that "whatever you want from life it's up to you to make it happen". Work is just a one part 🙂 Also loved this one: "If you want to feel a certain way the only thing in your way is you."
Great post!
Hi Alex, Very true. Most of us need to do a better job of creating the life we want instead of passively waiting for things to get better.
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I personally feel happy in my work but I see and know so many people who don't and yet they don't do anything about it, it is like they have resigned themselves to unhappiness without even seeing if there is another way. I am definitely going to start directing people here so that they can see there is another way.