How To Find Fulfilling Work That Gives You Purpose
Finding the right fit in work and life
For some of us, finding the right fit for work and life takes a while.
I was undoubtedly one of those. I did want to be a teacher from a young age, but I was always unsettled and looking over the fence about what else I could do. I just always felt dissatisfied.
It took me a long time to work out what I needed to be fulfilled.
Finding a career path
My first job as a teacher was okay, but the realities of working in a bureaucratic, slow- paced institution were uninspiring.
I also questioned myself: Was I good enough? I was fearful someone would tell me I'd done something wrong. Trying to be perfect when I was just starting out, putting so much pressure on myself.
What I did know was that I was a people person, a helper and carer. So that was a good place to start.
Values are important
I changed careers into recruitment but didn't like the sales aspect, so I moved into human resources with large organisations. I learnt so much and met lovely people, but this wasn't right; constantly feeling like there was something else I should be doing. I could complain about the politics and ambitious people who knew how to honey those above them to get ahead. But I realised much later that I just didn't like being an employee and a tiny cog in a big wheel. In other words, my values weren't being met, which was not the fault of my employers.
Gaining confidence through self-discovery
Over time, through a lot of reflection and building my confidence by discovering what I enjoy, I was able to find the work I love. I learnt that I liked to lead, to teach, although not in a school, to be a sounding board and to help people with the many changes that life brings us.
Here's where to start
If you're questioning where you are in life, feeling unsettled or dissatisfied but not quite sure why, download my free questionnaire “How Happy Are You With Your Life”, that will help tease out those areas that might need some tweaking.
This assessment is the shortcut I wish I had to help me narrow down what mattered to me most, what areas needed attention and where else I could focus my time and efforts to get closer to what I really wanted more quickly.