Finding Control Over Your Happiness

Michael Moody, Chicago Fitness Trainer

Most of us want to feel fulfillment in our daily roles-as a wife, as an employee, etc.  Unfortunately, sometimes our jobs and relationships are structured outside of our control-making us pawns on someone else's board.  Most times, we are subject to the quarterly goals and billable hours that our managers demand of us.  We feel the need to meet their bottom-line, otherwise our job is in jeopardy.  Eventually, our passion for the content and the type of work disappears.  We feel disassociated from our job.  Rewards motivate people to get rewards-and we don't work above the expectations to achieve this. 

Unfortunately, your job is a major part of your life.  Can you release your emotional investment in this job for happiness elsewhere or change within the same company?  Are you willing to sacrifice many years of law school or graduate school and loans for a more gratifying job or position-but less paying?  Most of you struggle with the question.  For this reason, you tend stay.

As Daniel H. Pink suggests in his book Drive, you won't find this satisfaction until you find autonomy and mastery in your quest for a greater purpose. You inherently want to contribute to something greater-not just quarterly goals.  You want to know that your efforts in the office will help the company grow and create innovative products.  You want to know that you are a piece of something bigger-an idea.

While some of you are project managers and have the power to instill this philosophy, most of you can't change the structure around you-only yourself.  The first step is realizing this.  Are you valued?  Are you given the opportunity to use your creativity?

Many managers will steer their employees from this thinking-enticing them with bonuses and other carrot-and-stick rewards for bottom line goals. As a result, you may lose the focus on "now" while meeting the demands of someone else.  Do you lose focus on your needs and wants fulfilling your manager's demands?  It’s a pattern of living that most people accept despite their unhappiness.

Perhaps these patterns are ingrained and accepted from values in our education (where intelligence is often rewarded over effort and creativity).  We are constantly pushed toward a specific goal without the opportunity for individuality and ownership.  This is an example of "standardized thinking": a single/non-creative thought process fostered and structured by someone else.

With this being said, is it time to reevaluate your role in your company?  Is it time to change or redefine your position that doesn't foster autonomy and find a position that values your creativity and judgment?  At what point do you take responsibility for your contribution at work?  Although you’ll achieve goals and meet deadlines, you now know that mastery of any job or task is never realized fully.  Part of your joy is in the pursuit or process-is your pursuit fulfilling? 

You should reflect on your roles in life (especially in the workplace) and evaluate your levels of motivation and happiness.  Hopefully, you’ll figure out how to enjoy the labor of your position.  Write your life purpose on a sheet of paper.  Only write one sentence and determine whether your actions are in-line with this purpose.