Finding Joy in Your Work
/Before you roll your eyes at the concept as some kind of work utopia only possible to those who found their calling in a dream job, let me explain.
Decades ago, I gained the moniker, “Joy Maker”. At first I thought it was a euphemism for being a people pleaser, and with it the burden to ensure others were happy. As a consummate reframer (and being genetically predisposed to enthusiastic optimism – thanks Dad), I realized being a joy maker was more about bringing my authentic self to work.
It was a core reason I transitioned from being a marketing consultant to a business therapist. I wanted people to find joy in their work, and I wanted to do that at the organizational level to make the greatest impact.
The phrase, “work is a four-letter word” is often a cynical and default way to express the idea that work can be unpleasant or undesirable. We get caught up in the grind, the drama, the hardships, and never-ending demands in such a way that it doesn’t fill our cup. Our problem-solving tendencies turn into seeing only what is not working and it can be disheartening.
Joy is a deep, uplifting feeling of happiness, contentment, or delight that often arises from meaningful experiences, personal connection, or inner fulfillment.
Joy can come from:
A sense of purpose or alignment with one’s values
Acts of kindness or connection with others
Appreciation of beauty, nature, or the present moment
Growth, creativity, or contribution
Meaningful experiences.
Connecting your work to a bigger purpose – the why you do what you do – can ground you and give meaning to the mundane. Examine your workplace. Are there opportunities to co-create something meaningful, a contribution that is bigger than you could do on your own? Are there ways in which you offer growth and creativity that reward innovative thinking?
A quick inventory of my clients and I see:
A construction project that improves urban infrastructure, thereby creating safer roads for our communities.
A human-centered healthcare management firm, where both members and plans feel seen, heard, and cared for.
An HR team that guides employees from recruitment to retirement, providing the expertise and support for thriving careers throughout the employee lifecycle.
A leadership team with a vision to build a thriving culture of kindness, personal responsibility, can-do attitudes, and humble confidence.
Where and how can you create more meaning in your work?
Personal connection.
We spend a significant amount of time with the people in our work world. Healthy organizations create a sense of belonging for employees. The relationships we build – teammates, managers, mentors, clients, consultants – all hold the potential to shape the depths of our joy and satisfaction.
Fostering a personal connection does not require becoming besties with your coworkers. The connection may grow from a shared desire to deliver great work, or a deep appreciation for someone’s knowledge and skills, or a shared experience of moving through a difficult challenge together (and being stronger for it!). Being vulnerable and learning together while impacting results or creating change is a powerful relationship-builder.
What do you admire about the people in your work world? Where can you level up your collaboration to deepen the connection?
Inner fulfillment.
You may be doubtful that work can bring inner fulfillment unless, like my friend Zo, you are a Buddhist monk. In the context of work, fulfillment can be achieved by knowing your motivators and values. For example, I am motivated to contribute to people’s growth, and I value creativity and agency. When I combine these in service to my clients, I feel immensely satisfied and accomplished.
What fulfills you? Where do you find your flow? What are you naturally drawn to?
Answers to these questions are your hints to creating fulfillment at work. Over the years, I have heard clients say they thrive on a complex challenge, in a fast-paced environment with variety, on a mutually respected, purpose-driven team, and in creating operational efficiencies.
What can you shift to create more joy?
Mindset. How we choose to see the world influences our experience of it.
How you show up. Unconsciously, we can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of work being hard, stressful, and unrewarding, i.e. “a four-letter word”. And while it is undeniable that work brings its own headaches, we have some agency about the energy we bring and the boundaries we place. (Remember, humans are good at making things harder than they need to be).
How you use your time. Our relationship to time plays an important role in joyfulness. The more presence we can bring and the clearer commitments we can make will influence our experience. What can you say yes to – and what will you say no to?
Appreciating the micro wins as deposits into your joy account. Progress and learning are to be celebrated as discoveries and growth.
Inviting a bit of enthusiasm for a project or task, rather than giving into drudgery or going through the motions.
Feed your optimism by allowing yourself to imagine best-case scenarios that generate a sense of possibility and aliveness.
The formula for joy is not very complicated, but it does take a bit of reflection. When we raise our awareness of our wants, needs, motivators, and values, we can live more intentionally and in alignment. That kind of congruence helps us travel lighter in our world, opening the doors for more joy.
Unlike fleeting pleasure or excitement, joy is more enduring and rooted—it can exist even in the midst of challenges. Joy is not just an emotion, but a state of being—one that can be cultivated through gratitude, mindfulness, and living authentically. That, and the simple permission-based belief that is it possible to experience joy in our work world.
What fills your cup?
