The Consequences of Finding Joy in Your Work
Episode 668: Show Notes
Finding joy in your work is a wonderful thing. It can energize you, further your drive, and help you push through challenging tasks and deadlines. But it can also have a detrimental effect.
Many of us have fallen into the trap of trying to get all our meaning and joy from one source, whether it’s your partner or your company. The problem with that is that it puts untenable pressure on the people we love the most. It can also cause us to neglect other parts of ourselves, leaving us devastated and adrift when we no longer have the partner, or job, that defined our identity.
Today on the show we delve into the consequences of finding joy in our work. We discuss some of the common traps people fall into when their actions aren’t in alignment with what they want, and how to do the difficult, introspective work of uncovering our true needs and aspirations. Tuning in you’ll learn about the biggest obstacles we’ve seen clients face, and how we can help you overcome them. We also discuss how to find more time in your life and identify exactly what you want for your future self!
Join us today for key insights into these important topics. Discover the consequences of finding joy in your work and learn how you can achieve balance and meaning in all areas of your life!
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Why We Create Problems When There Aren’t Any
Hormones have a crazy effect on our body, and often in ways that we aren’t even aware of. When it comes to work and stress a lot of the mainstream conversation has been around reducing stress hormones like cortisol. But it’s also important to remember that those hormones serve a purpose, so much so that some people even become addicted to the adrenaline of stress hormones!
So what does this mean for you and your business? Many of us have found some level of normalcy since the start of the pandemic, and are finding ourselves either feeling bored or anticipating that things can’t continue this way, and subsequently, we are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. As a result, a lot of business owners are creating problems where there aren’t any by pursuing new revenue streams or tweaking new offers. Often all this ends up doing is ensuring that your actions and your needs are not in alignment.
The thing we all need to ask ourselves is why are we pursuing the things that we’re pursuing? Often our drive comes from craving something very specific. But if you’re not aware of what that is, then you probably won’t achieve the results you truly want, or you’ll end up with a bunch of consequences you weren’t prepared for. We could all do with a little more introspection, before launching into action!
You Can’t Get All Your Joy From One Place
Many of us have had to learn the hard way, that you can’t get everything you need from one place. Whether it’s your partner, your business, or your career, we often end up putting all our energy into one thing, with the expectation that it will give us everything we need in order to feel fulfilled. If we’re seeking happiness, joy, fulfillment, challenge, or creativity, we have to stop assuming that it all needs to come from one source! Once you apply this principle in every area of your life, you will begin to feel much more in charge and fulfilled. It will take a lot of conscious effort and self-reflection, but it is essential for us to start diversifying where we find our happiness!
What Do You Want Now and For Your Future Self?
It’s so easy for us to lose sight of the fact that we change and assume that what we want today will be the same things we want a year from now. The truth is that the things that bring us happiness will change over time. And sometimes it can be difficult to be at peace with that. It can also be difficult to unearth the motivation behind our goals. This is why it can be so useful to take a step back and ask ourselves whether we really want to achieve the goal we’ve set ourselves, or whether we’re actually just interested in the outcome of that goal.
For instance, perhaps you’ve set yourself the goal that you want to start a business in a new state. But subconsciously you may not be aware of the real reason behind that goal. Perhaps the real reason you're expanding your business is not that it’s the best choice for your company, but rather because you just want to spend more time in a different place. This is why it’s so important to take the time to uncover what you truly want so that you can make choices that will actually help you achieve that.
Creating the Time To Prioritize What You Need
You may be thinking that all of these are great points, but that there is no way you have the time to figure out what you truly want and how to implement it. We’re here to tell you otherwise. There are small steps you can take to uncover what you want right now, as well as what you will want a year from now, and how you can find the time to do it. One of the biggest things you can do is take control of the time you already have, instead of trying to find time somewhere else by doing things like waking up earlier or skipping lunch. It’s also essential that you communicate what you need with the people in your life. You will need their support to take over some of your responsibilities and understand why you might be less responsive than normal in certain areas.
It may not seem like it should be a top priority, but if you don’t take care of yourself, then everything in your life will suffer, from your health to your finances. So if you’re feeling super stuck, dive into today’s episode, DM us over on Instagram for support, guidance, and insight!
Quote This
If we're seeking happiness, or joy, or fulfillment, or challenge, or creativity in literally anything, we have to stop assuming that it all needs to come from one source. If you apply the same principle in every area of your life, you will feel so much more in charge.
Highlights
Why We Create Problems When There Aren’t Any [0:07:20]
You Can’t Get All Your Joy From One Place [0:13:35]
What Do You Want Now and for Your Future Self? [0:17:19]
Creating the Time To Prioritize What You Need [0:21:55]
Today’s Guest:
Abagail & Emylee
The Strategy Hour Podcast
We help overwhelmed and creative entrepreneurs break down their Oprah-sized dreams to create a functioning command center to tame the chaos of their business. Basically, we think you’re totally bomb diggity, we’re about to uplevel the shiz out of your business.
Key Topics:
Joy, Creativity, Time Management, Motivation, Meaning
