Do you consider your work fun? Or do you keep the two words separate?
It is interesting how much time we spend in our lives on this separate category we call ‘work’, and yet how many people dislike the fact they have to do it. Many strive and save and slave to get their retirement funds in order so they can FINALLY live the good life, doing whatever they want to do. Having talked with many a retiree about their retirement I have found one common theme that resonates, which is a key component to what work gave them.
Life-giving purpose.
This is not to say that people should not retire, nor do I want you to reinvent your retirement portfolio. But do take a second right now to consider this simple question: What will you do in your retirement that you feel will be life-giving for 20 years? Gulp, that is a long time. If all you are aiming for is sitting around drinking mojitos in the sun, consider how long you can do that until you get bored. If you honestly will never get bored, then save up for your sunscreen and enjoy…and quit reading my post after this sentence.
OK, for those of you still with me, let’s take a minute to consider purpose.
If you read the article I linked at the top of the post you get a chance to see what it is like to have everything you will ever need at an age you can still enjoy it. Commodore in many ways is living the dream of so many people, being in your prime and able to choose what you will do. I think his story spells out another reality though, one that many do not imagine happening, and that is having the time and resources, but not the sense of purpose to do any of it.
So it begs the question, how are you treating your days to a solid dose of purpose? Even if you have chosen a monotonous job, and you have chosen it if you are sticking with it, you have to evaluate what drives you to work. If it really is a paycheque to get you through to the end, then are you actually experiencing joy in doing so? The key result of purpose lived is not dreading Monday and working for the weekend. It is joy, and as a result, a life well lived. If not, maybe it is not the job, instead it is your approach to your life.
Work is not your key defining factor in life. But how you create purpose in living your life could change the way you feel about your work.
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Lead Freely 