Meaning and Self-Realization at Work: Achieving Happiness and Purpose
Enhancing Self- actualization in the Workplace: Strategies for Personal Growth and Professional Success
Craving that "a-ha" moment at work? Organizational psychologist Selma Fehrmann suggests that finding yourself doing something meaningful not just gives you a sense of satisfaction, but also boosts motivation, resilience, and overall happiness. Here's how to actively influence and enhance your work happiness.
The Ikigai Approach: Finding Your Personal Purpose
To strengthen self-realization at work, consider adopting the Ikigai model, stemming from Japanese culture, as a practical framework:
- Identify Your Passions: Reflect on what invigorates and excites you, along with the activities where you truly excel. For instance, do you find joy in helping others, or are your skills most effectively utilized when working on challenging, innovative projects?
- Assess societal Needs: Contemplate the societal and community needs that resonate with you. How can your unique talents become a powerful force to address these issues?
- Evaluate market opportunities: Understand the economic value of your skills and passions. Discover roles, projects, or side hustles that align your strengths with market demands.
- Regular Self-Reflection and Adaptation: The Ikigai is not set in stone; revisit your passions and goals as you advance in your career or as your environment evolves.
Additional Strategies to Boost Your Feeling of Meaning
While the Ikigai model offers a strong foundation for self-actualization and discovering purpose, further insights from experts like Selma Fehrmann can provide additional guidance:
- Set Personal and Professional Goals: Defining clear, meaningful objectives that are aligned with your passions and values will help keep you focused and motivated.
- Pursue Learning and Development: Invest in continuous learning, mentoring, and skill development to maintain a sense of engagement and competency.
- Nurture Positive Relationships: Building a strong support network with colleagues and mentors can foster growth, challenge, and inspiration.
- Adapt to Change and Uncertainty: Maintain a flexible and resilient mindset to thrive as the demands of your career and the broader world change.
- Contribute to Something Larger: Engage in projects or activities that benefit others and boost your sense of impact and contribution to the world.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge your progress and achievements along the way to help sustain your motivation and overall satisfaction.
Meaning Maker's Mindset: Straddling Internal and External Factors
To avoid feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, it's essential to cultivate a balanced approach that caters to both internal and external drivers of purpose:
- Strike a Balance: Strive to integrate what you love and are good at (internal) with what the world needs and what you can be paid for (external) to achieve a harmonious and fulfilling work life.
- Create Multidimensional Sources of Fulfillment: Seek roles and activities that align with all the Ikigai elements, even if it means drawing purpose from various aspects of your life.
- Practice Gratitude and Mindfulness: Maintain a present-moment focus and be mindful of the value you bring daily, rather than waiting for a future of perfection.
By regularly examining and building on these components, you can deepen your self-actualization and find greater meaning in your work and life.
- To cultivate a lifestyle that aligns with your work and fosters self-realization, adopt the practice of setting personal and professional goals based on your passions and values, and consider adopting an education-and-self-development mindset for ongoing learning and skill development.
- In your community policy and employment policy, prioritize roles and undertakings that allow for personal-growth, contribute to larger societal needs, and foster positive relationships, as these elements can help create a harmonious and fulfilling work-life and boost your sense of purpose and meaning.
