Can Professional Happiness Be Attained?
Let's examine this, What is Professional Happiness? There is no one definition. I think professional happiness depends on the individuals needs and goals. According to wikipedia.org it says that, "happiness depends on the work environment. It also says that happiness is not fundamentally rooted in obtaining sensual pleasures and money, but those factors can influence the well-being of an individual at the workplace. However, extensive research has revealed that freedom and autonomy at a workplace have the most effect on the employee's level of happiness, and other important factors are gaining knowledge and the ability to influence the self's working hours".
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_at_work
In this article we are going to take a deeper dive into Professional Happiness, the challenges to get there, will we ever get there and some tips to help you on your journey. We will also highlight professional's stories describing their journeys and how they have or have not yet achieved professional happiness.
To be honest I am 41 years old and I did not begin to think about professional happiness until a couple years ago. Graduating from college usually your ultimate goal is to get a job, pay off those students loans and make your professional mark in society. Yes, of course I wanted a job that I did not hate but finances were my top priority. I did not think about proper compensation aligning with a healthy work environment. Those were just not my thoughts. Can you relate?
Here are some important questions that you should ask yourself to evaluate where you are:
Examining You (Realize, Recognize, Articulate) - Do you know what makes you happy? Are you sacrificing your happiness because of circumstances or situations that you think might be out of your control? What steps are you taking to be happier?
Firstly, I think you cannot achieve total professional happiness if you are unhappy in your personal life. We are very emotional human beings and things tend to spill over no matter how much we try to separate them. Let's break it down!
Work - Life Balance - (Personal Life) - I remember going through this really dark period in my personal life. I was depressed, did not want to get out of bed, lack of energy and just didn't want to be around anyone, but I still had to go to work.
In life there are responsibilities and challenges, and so my philosophy was no matter how you feel you suck it up, get the job done because no one else will do it for you. So despite me not feeling well personally, I push through professionally. The reality is, I could not separate the two and before long my personal started to interfere with my professional. I was late to work, my productivity was at an all time low and I was less than friendly on the job. I don't know if you know this, but energy can be felt. If you are walking around with negative energy or a dark cloud, essentially others will feel that energy and it can poison a room. Now, I am not saying we have to hide everything that happens in life and be cheery all the time but if we seek help when we are challenged then we have the ability to overcome. It is possible to weather the storm and embrace the rainbow.
Focus on what you love - what brings you joy?
Surround yourself with people that support (TRIBE) and uplift you in your time of uncertainty.
What do you see vs what others see - believe in who you are and celebrate you.
Mindset Shift - The world we live in is full of a lot of negativity, however it is also filled with love and light. What we choose to accept is what fosters our mood and outlook. Being intentional in your mindset and adopting positive thinking is essential to that happiness you seek.
Book Suggestion: How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell
Goal Setting - Making goals for your life both personally and professionally is imperative to give your life direction and to keep you on task with what you want to achieve. Do not be afraid to make a plan. Be clear or your purpose and what you want to be known for and work towards that.
How do you set goals:
Outline your vision
Figure out what you really want - It is important to gain some clarity on things. Find that time and space that will allow you to think and eliminate all distractions. Identify why you feel stuck and why you're experiencing conflict from within.
Short-term goals vs Long-term goals (SMART GOALS) - You will not be able to accomplish everything at once, pace yourself and leave room for mistakes and setbacks. Start first with short-term goals and be intentional in working towards them. Remember to celebrate the wins no matter how small.
You are the author and master of your destiny, do make sure those goals are clearly defined.
Consider getting an accountability partner, remember no one can do it alone. This person can be a friend, mentor or coach.
Life Mishaps (Challenges) - To be honest life can sometimes get in the way of our goals and as a result a lot of us tend to sink deep into disappointment. Give yourself permission to fail and learn from it. There is a famous quote: 'A setback is an opportunity for a comeback', use your setbacks as stepping stones to get to your destination. Do not give up, rather rely on others for support and mentorship.
The Process - We have established the importance of happiness at work and in your career, unfortunately professional happiness is not usually attained right away, there is a process, steps you must take to achieve such happiness.
Are you doing what makes you happy or is it out of necessity? For example: when an employee is proud and happy in what they do and know that their contributions are valued it creates satisfaction and love for the job. Note: Evaluate where you are and what changes you need to make you happy.
Let go of the negative and embrace the positive: If you find yourself in a toxic and negative work space it can be hard to produce and even harder to be happy. Take priority is finding a positive work environment, a company that values your contributions and focuses on your growth. Seek guidance from your TRIBE, embracing yourself with positive influences.
Your Approach: How we approach situations in our life says a lot about who were are and what we attract. You have to show up in a way that people admire, respect and trust. Are you the person that people go to?
In this episode of 'The Network Hour', podcast our special guest speaker Krystle Jenna Dookoo shares her experiences and perspective on professional happiness.
Professional Development - Growth is essential in a career or business and often times we forget to place emphasis on professional development. I usually hear people say things like, " I don't want to start over", " going back to school cost too much money", "I am to old now to pursue anything else". All of these excuses can be as a result of fear, fear of the unknown and fear because you might not have the right information. My advice: Do your research on the kind of career you want and where you want to go in that career. What are the requirements for such a career and who are the people to connect with to gain support and information on next steps? If a degree might not be an option, seek out certifications that can give you the same knowledge and will hold weight on your resume. Look for volunteer opportunities in your field and align yourself with organizations that can give you some exposure and build your brand.
Many times, a professional can become insecure in his/her abilities because of what a position might require or engage in comparing themselves with others - self judgement, building yourself up and gaining additional qualifications can alleviate this problem. However, a mindset shift and believing in your value is definitely necessary.
Creativity and Professional Happiness - When we are free to be creative without judgement we are happy and achieve some sort of fulfilment. Listen to Dr. Caroline 🎤 Brookfield, in this episode of 'The Network Hour', talk about How Creativity Relates to Professional Happiness.
Your happiness can impact your physical and mental health - I remember speaking to one of my clients and she said to me, "Molly, I do not feel energy in the mornings to go to work. I am upset all the time and I hate my co-workers. I feel like I do not know who I am anymore." Now these are really strong words but it is how she felt. Her body was having a negative physical reaction to her unhappiness by exhibiting low energy. It also started to affect her mental wellbeing because she was now developing dislike for her co-workers and the feeling of anger all the time. Someone in this state, cannot perform to the best of their ability at work, is functioning on low vibration and definitely not happy professionally. My advice: Do not stay in a situation like this. Seek help from a professional or lean on your TRIBE. It might be time to start looking for that new job and focus on some selfcare. Our personal health is very important to our professional happiness and should be taken seriously. Make a note of when you are happiest and try to be in that space more often than not. Do some research on the career you would like to have and take the necessary steps to get there. Remember no man is an island and we all need help some time, so do not be afraid to seek out and ask for that help. ASK FOR HELP!
Podcast - The Network Hour
Listen to some amazing women from my podcast 'The Network Hour', share their stories on how they achieve or are working towards professional happiness.
Published by: Molly Creese
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