Do Work You Enjoy

People of a certain age remember an early 1960s television sitcom. The two main characters were Dobie Gillis and his pal Maynard G.Krebbs. Maynard was a goodhearted young 1950s beatnik wannabe (although the term wannabe didn’t exist yet.).If anyone ever mentioned work, he would exclaim, “Work! in a funny tone of voice that said, “This is something I really can’t cope with; anything but work.”

          You may have seen those bumper stickers and licenses plate frames which announce that the driver would rather be doing something else.” I’D RATHER BE SKING,””I’D RATHER BE FLYING,” or “I’D RATHER BE SHOPPING.” The driver of the car would rather be doing something other than what he or she is doing. The ordinary, everyday world is a drag. Work, especially, is a drag. Blecch.

          So you may ask, “How can work make me happy?” One may reply that if the work you do doesn’t make you happy then you should find another line of work. easy to say, not so easy to do. The title of a bestselling book, do what you love , the money will follow , is a misleading over simplifications of mountainous proportions.

          Modern societies often make it difficult for people to do work that nourishes the soul. Does working in a fast food ham burger restaurant contribute to happiness? Does working in a” Fast lube “garage lead to happiness? Does fitting the same micro chip into a printed circuit board over and over all day long help workers to be happy people? It’s perfectly possible that some people like such forms of work and finds it is a source of happiness. Some few people, at least. Many wouldn’t find fast-food work a source of happiness, however. And many wouldn’t find giving cause a ten minute tune up or sticking the same microchip into the same place on identical circuit boards, over and over and over, a daily source of happiness such are the thrills of modern life.

          Some people have few choices many of us have far more freedom of choice when it comes to work than we think we do, however. What do you value most, economic security or work  that helps you to be happy? are you willing to take some risks, stick your neck out, take a leap of faith? If so, then you can and will find work you will be happy with. You will.

          What work do you want to do? Really. What must you do in order to do that kind of work and also pay the bills and buy the groceries?