I understand that you're feeling a disconnect between your values and your current job. That's a difficult place to be, but it's not uncommon and it's certainly not impossible to navigate. These feelings can sometimes be the start of profound change and transformation.
Roman Krznaric, author of "How to Find Fulfilling Work", suggests that confusion about career choice is quite normal, especially given the wide range of jobs available today. So, firstly, acknowledge your feelings and confusion without judgment.
Secondly, it might help to take some time to identify what your passions, talents, and values are. What brings you joy? What feels meaningful to you? Is there a cause or issue that you feel particularly drawn to?
Thirdly, remember you have two broad choices: either go into the business world and strive to change its values from within, or create a new possibility outside that realm that aligns with your calling. This process may take time, so don't rush it. Be patient with yourself as you get clear about what you truly want.
Fourthly, keep in mind the idea of finding purpose within your current job. Some studies show that how we frame our work can significantly impact our experience of it. Even if your job seems menial or meaningless to others, you might be able to find value and purpose in it when you shift your perspective.
Lastly, remember that even small gestures and interactions can change the world. At ServiceSpace, we believe every act of kindness or service contributes to a more compassionate world. You might be surprised how much of an impact you can make right where you are!
Don't lose hope. Keep exploring, stay open, and trust that you will find a path that aligns with your values and gives you a sense of fulfillment.
The sources below helped generate your response ...
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6 Ways To Find Work You Love, by Roman Krznaric
PERMALINK: https://www.dailygood.org/story/499/6-ways-to-find-work-you-love-roman-krznaric/
The idea of fulfilling work--a job that reflects our passions,
talents and values--is a modern invention. Open Dr. Johnson's
celebrated _Dictionary_, published in 1755, and the word
"fulfilment" doesn't even appear. But today our expectations are
higher, which helps explain why job satisfaction has declined to
a record low of 47 percent
[http://www.gallup.com/poll/158723/workers-least-happy-work-stress-pay.aspx] in
the U.S., and is even lower in Europe.
If you count yourself amongst those who are unhappy in their job, or
at least have that occasional niggling feeling that your work and self
are out of alignment, how are you supposed to go about finding a
meaningful career? What does it take to overcome the fear of change
and negotiate the labyrinth of choices, especially in tough economic
times?
Here are six pieces of essential wisdom drawn from some of the best
brains in the field.
1. CONFUSION IS PERFECTLY NORMAL
First, a consoling thought: being confused about career choice is
perfectly normal and utterly understandable. In the pre-industrial
period there were around thirty standard trades--you might decide to
be a blacksmith or a barrel-maker--but now career websites list over
12,000 different jobs. The result? We can become so anxious about
making the wrong choice that we end up making no choice at all,
staying in jobs that we have long grown out of.
Source: _Ways_To_Find_Work_You_Love_by_Roman_Krznaric.txt... - If you don't like the lack of values in the
business world, perhaps you can go in and change it. Or perhaps
you can birth a new possibility outside that realm. What is your
calling? Don't rush that process. Its uncomfortable to be with
that, but just sit with it until there is clarity at the root."Americ Azevedo
[http://sites.google.com/site/americazevedo/Home/biography], the
professor, himself was touched. He said that one of his students
came up and said, "I just decided what I'm going to do this summer.
I'm going to Burma to gift my dental care services."Americ and I had never had a long conversation, but in a class where
they study Gandhi and MLK, his introduction -- "Here is a real
revolutionary" -- was quite encouraging. :) After class, I got to
learn a bit more about his own, rather revolutionary background. For
one, he teaches a large undergraduate Engineering course,
Peace-and-Conflict studies course, and an upcoming Business school
course. And he opens each of his classes with 10 minutes of
meditation! In fact, he's now started a class on meditation itself
-- and 300 people signed up for it this semester! "Where were you
when I went to school here?"I joked.
"You know what I want to see?"he asked me at one point. "End of
money. The way its setup right now, its toxic."I then learn that
he, many years ago, spent a whole year without money!
Source: Truth_Demands_To_Be_Lived_Stories_from_Americs_Cla... - But the worst is to ponder leaving anyway because you're
not being able to work how you want. Just work how you want and see
what happens. Maybe there will be consequences, but maybe not.
LEAH: Some occupations have the flexibility where you're moving in
and out of the office, but other jobs, like doctors and nurses and
janitors and administrative people who need to be at their desk, they
don't have that flexibility. Then what do we do? How do you amplify
your sense of purpose if you're not going to be able to put in more
time during the workweek with your kids? Well you can do things like
get more clear about why you're doing what you're doing. It might
be, like you said, to pay the bills.
One of my favorite studies looks at how people construct their ideas
about their work. [During] interviews with janitors at hospitals, for
the same job, people can frame it so differently. For one person,
it's menial, it's meaningless, and for another person, they see
themself as an instrumental part of the healing process. Their keeping
it clean is going to save lives. It's the same job, they both have
to be there the same 40 hours a week, but physiologically it's a
different experience.
LAURA: We can seek out meaning in any job. Even if you're just
making and destroying widgets, you can smile at your colleagues. You
can make their days by being pleasant to be around.
Source: A_Mindful_Approach_to_Time_Management_by_Heleo_Edi...