Finding purpose in your work

4 steps you can take to find work that feels meaningful.

Are you feeling stuck in a job that makes you miserable? Perhaps you wake up dreading the day ahead, wishing you had a job that felt more fulfilling? Maybe you’ve started Googling ‘how to change career in your 30s’?

If you feel unhappy in your job, but struggle to make a decision about what you might want to do instead - here’s a 4 step framework that you can use today to generate ideas of job roles that could be a great fit for you.

Identify What You Love:

Start by thinking about the activities and experiences that light you up. Consider times when you've felt most alive and engaged. Think about hobbies or interests that energise you.

Make a list of anything that comes to mind - no matter how small it might feel.

Understanding these things that you love can help you connect with what really matters to you. You are much more likely to enjoy your job if it lines up with your values and priorities.

Recognise Your Strengths:

Next, make a list of all the things you’re great at - your unique talents and skills. Think about tasks or projects where you excel and receive positive feedback.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the things you do aren’t a big deal, because they come easily to you. It’s the fact that these things feel easy to you that makes them a big deal! These are your natural skills that will help you stand out.

Understanding your strengths will boost your confidence and help you see the value you have to offer.

Discover What the World Needs:

Jobs exist to address specific needs or challenges in society. Think about the issues or problems in your community, in your industry, or even on a global scale that resonate with you deeply. What breaks your heart when you hear people talking about it?

How might you be able to contribute to make a meaningful impact in your community or industry?

This can give clues about your passions. Having a job that lines up with your passions will likely mean that you wake up excited for your day at work, not hitting the snooze button and rolling over.

Explore What You Can be Paid for:

Finally, consider what all of this means for you to be able to earn a living.

When you think about your professional skills and expertise, where are they needed in the job market? What industries or roles exist where there is a demand for your abilities?

It’s important that your work feels fulfilling, but also that you feel you’re being paid a fair amount for the work you do.

If you’ve found this helpful - you’re going to love this free training I recorded on How to find Meaningful work