Find Your "Why"

This article "If you’re unhappy at work, a hasty job change may not help" really resonates with me because it is a topic often comes up in coaching conversations - many people are not just unhappy with their jobs; they’re disconnected from its purpose. 

We spend a large part of our lives at work, so it’s natural that work often defines who we are. There is nothing wrong with that. But we often feel that something is missing when identity is built only on the "what":

- What titles we hold- What companies we work for

- What we earn

- What others think of our success 

When the “what” changes, our sense of self can be shaken. 

A stronger and more enduring anchor is the "why":

- Why does this work matter to me?

- Why does this work matter to me, in this season of my life?

- Why am I leading, building, serving, creating or growing others? 

If you feel that something is missing despite your current or past successes, here are 3 thoughts:

1. Your job is something you do; it is not who you are (at least not all of it).

2. Identity built on “what” is fragile.

3. Purpose gives your work meaning beyond your position. 

At the end of the day, we are more than our work. But if work is going to shape part of our identity, let it be shaped by purpose. So, what is the “why” behind the work you do today?